Takalani Malindi is a former drug and alcohol addict from Tshitereke village outside Thohoyandou. These days, however, he gets his kicks from farming. Vegetables, to be precise, and his products have become a household brand in many of the villagers' kitchens.
The 30-year-old farmer is a far cry from his old self. He is living proof that a person can change for the better and turn his or her life around from being a nobody to a somebody.
His early life was characterised by drug and alcohol abuse. To make matters worse, he dropped out of school in the 11th grade, which made him unemployable for most professions. "I hung out with the wrong crowds. We would sit around drinking beer and smoking drugs day and night. This consumed much of my time, so I was left with little time to do anything constructive, and I ended up quitting school. I was walking straight on the path to self-destruction and did not give an ear to anybody who tried to advise me."
One day, in 2019, someone had a heart-to-heart talk with him again, offering him some valuable advice, and this time he decided to listen and change his bad ways, and not a day goes by that he regrets making this decision. "Farming became my first passion. I started small, but my business, Taki's Green Land, is growing steadily," he said.
Nothing makes him happier than to till his piece of land and see how his crops grow from tiny seedlings to wholesome vegetables. His farming business has grown considerably over time, and he has built a large clientele with a big demand for his produce. "I produce almost every kind of vegetable there is, which I sell locally and to the big supermarkets. This has become my main source of income. The business has turned my life around," he said.
Malindi dreams of one day owning a big farm where he will be able to employ many people and penetrate bigger markets further abroad.
"My advice to the youth is to take their education seriously and to stay away from drugs and alcohol. No matter how bad your background might be, set goals for yourself. Work towards achieving these goals and you will succeed. I was raised by my unemployed mother, and my grandmother, who took care of us, encouraged us and motivated me to till the land. Bit by bit I am working towards my dream," Malindi said.