Ukuvuka Ekuseni Cooperative Emerges as a Leading Agribusiness in Sarah Baartman District

A once-informal family project in Hankey has grown into one of the Sarah Baartman district’s most promising agribusiness ventures. Ukuvuka Ekuseni Agricultural Primary Cooperative, founded in 2015 by Tommy Thys, now farms vegetables on 10,72 hectares in a region historically dominated by citrus production.

The cooperative produces cabbage, pumpkin, butternut, beetroot, and cauliflower, making it one of only four vegetable producers in the area. Harvests occur every two to three months, yielding between 30,000 and 50,000 cabbages, 5,000 cauliflowers, 5,000 broccoli heads, and significant quantities of pumpkin, butternut, beetroot, and carrots. The produce is sold at the Markman Market in Gqeberha.

During peak seasons, the cooperative employs 14 to 18 casual workers, creating short-term employment opportunities that benefit the local community. The farm also maintains 14 pigs and 10 cattle, diversifying income streams beyond vegetable production.

“For me this cooperative is about securing a future for my children. I told them there are no jobs waiting in South Africa. We must build something that will carry them long after I’m gone,” said Thys. His wife Joyce and children Liana, Victoria, and Romano now manage operations together, using the farm to build generational wealth.

The cooperative’s growth accelerated after receiving a R385,774 incentive from the Eastern Cape Development Corporation’s Imvaba Cooperatives Fund. The support followed a recommendation from a Department of Agriculture official impressed by the family’s work ethic. The grant enabled the purchase of tractor implements and improvements to the irrigation system, significantly reducing operational costs and increasing productivity.

“The workload is so much lighter now. Imvaba came at the right time. I’m very grateful,” said Thys.

ECDC Acting Chief Executive Officer Lulama Mbobo-Vava explained that the Imvaba Cooperatives Fund supports the sustainability of primary cooperatives across the province. In the 2024/25 financial year, the fund disbursed R17,58 million to 57 cooperatives and cooperative-linked entrepreneurs, promoting self-employment, entrepreneurial development, and poverty alleviation. Supported sectors include agriculture, agro-processing, manufacturing, retail, services, creative industries, tourism, green energy, ICT, film, textiles, and the oceans economy.

Ukuvuka Ekuseni already produces A-grade vegetables that meet the quality standards of major retailers such as Spar, Shoprite, and Woolworths. The cooperative’s main barrier to large-scale commercial supply is the absence of a packhouse for packaging and dispatching produce according to retail specifications. “The demand is there and the quality is there. All we need now is a packhouse to unlock those opportunities,” said Thys.

The cooperative also has a social impact. Thys regularly donates vegetables to the local soup kitchen, Hankey Secondary School, and families in need.

Looking ahead, the family aims to acquire additional land, construct a fully-equipped packhouse, expand employment, and supply national retailers consistently. Thys also plans to partner with local agricultural schools to provide practical on-farm training. “Young people want to farm. You cannot learn farming in a classroom. We just need to open the doors for the next generation,” he said.

Ukuvuka Ekuseni’s journey demonstrates how family commitment, community support, and targeted funding can transform a small farm into a sustainable and influential agribusiness, with benefits that extend far beyond production.