A community trust has acquired ownership of two farms in the KwaZulu-Natal midlands with interests in forestry, cattle and an essential oil business, supported by Mondi and its business development arm, Mondi Zimele.

Forced to stop work for four months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, self-made entrepreneur Mondli Nsibande relied on relief funding and business support from Mondi Zimele to keep his business going and complete a big housing renovation project.

Silby and Sweleni Khumalo are partners in business and in life. They own a land management business, Silby Construction, which has secured a breakthrough land management contract with Tronox (mining) at the Obanjeni Reserve near Mtunzini.

After working in forestry for 12 years, Sonnyboy Mavuso started growing vegetables to feed the kids at a crèche in Iswepe.

Zwelethini Lushaba and Nonjabulo Thwala run a small-scale farming operation in the rural Wagendrift area outside Piet Retief.

Audrey Ndlovu is the driving force behind Umzamo Analytical Services, a coal testing laboratory service located in South Africa’s coal belt.

The establishment of an abattoir in the KwaZulu-Natal midlands has provided a ready market and slaughtering service for emerging, small-scale livestock farmers, and created 26 jobs.

Sugeshnee Naidoo is a determined entrepreneur who has overcome many obstacles to establish Enermous Investments.

Now, more than 20 years later, the resin tapping business in South Africa has been reborn thanks to a revival in the international market and timely intervention by Mondi Zimele.