Mary Baitsiwe, from Kome village near Kuruman, started from humble beginnings but is now a respected livestock farmer. Pictures: Supplied A rural woman from the Northern Cape is a force to be reckoned with in the livestock farming business. Mary Baitsiwe from Kome village near Kuruman has a compelling story to tell about starting a business without funding.
Baitsiwe started her farming business, Bokhutlo Trading Enterprise, in 2005 with only two goats that she had bought using the money she had been saving while working at a local supermarket. As she was busy strategising how to grow the enterprise, a friend she had lent money to repaid her with a sheep — something she appreciated — and since then she has remained focused on growing her business of raising animals and selling them. Her willpower and perseverance had paid off because she is now a well-known farmer owning 20 cattle, 89 sheep, 77 goats, 65 chickens and 15 turkeys.
“As soon as I received that sheep from a friend, I told myself that the next thing was to make a plan and find a way to get more livestock. “I still remember it like yesterday. I was so excited, and I immediately started to erect a kraal to accommodate it.
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The next step was to learn how to take care of the animals and prevent them from getting infections. “After my siblings realised that I have a passion for the business, they taught me livestock maintenance skills and also assisted me with some bookkeeping lessons so that I have a better understanding of the financial side of the business.” After acquiring the necessary skills, Baitsiwe has spent many years growing the business by adding more animals to her herd. In 2017, some of her family members who were about to relocate from the village gave her eight cattle, a sheep and a goat.
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