Food garden, a step in the right direction

Steven Ramokhula

Ikemeleng Kroondal

Rustenburg

27 /10 /202

The covid 19 pandemic has affected many people in South Africa. Many have lost their jobs, loved ones and property. The private sector has made use of the pandemic to retrench many and save on paying salaries of its employees while still producing 100% on production.

Mining industry is using only 70% of its workforce but still produce 100 + % on production. Most employees are complaining that they often get abused by their superiors and be threatened that there’s still 30% that is waiting for the opportunity to return to work.

Most people have now started vegetable gardens in their backyards. Food is expensive and they need to save as much as they can food. Their response is that they will buy what they can’t produce. The good thing is that they are working as neighbours on such. They plant what the neighbour doesn’t have. For example, if my neighbour has planted spinach and beetroot, I will plant tomato and onion so we can exchange.

Food gardens are very important to our communities. They serve as a temporary solution as the majority of our people in mining communities are unemployed and relying mostly on government grants.