In a significant development set to reshape sustainable farming in South Africa, Seriti Institute (NPC) has partnered with the DG Murray Trust (DGMT) in a groundbreaking initiative aimed at improving rural livelihoods and strengthening sustainable agriculture.
Sandile Makwati (31), a passionate agroecologist and social justice entrepreneur, is proof that big things can grow from small beginnings. Armed with indigenous knowledge, permaculture techniques, and an unwavering belief in sustainability, Makwati has turned a 1200 square meters backyard plot into a thriving organic farm, producing everything from carrots and beetroots to okra and broccoli.
From April 2024 to March 2025, the Township Energy Fund, a R10 million grant initiative led by the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) in partnership with the Seriti Institute (NPC), has left an impact on small businesses in townships, rural areas, and towns throughout the Western Cape.
With Seriti leading the implementation of SEF in Komati, the project is on track to drive economic growth and resilience, creating meaningful opportunities for the community in the long term.
The National Youth Service (NYS) programme continues to make a profound impact in communities across South Africa, with Orange Farm standing as a shining example of its success. Implemented by Seriti Institute, the programme has provided thousands of young people with opportunities to gain skills, earn a living, and change the trajectory of their lives.
Seriti Institute looks forward to the positive contributions this investment will bring to communities across South Africa, ensuring that the transition to clean energy creates meaningful opportunities, fosters resilience, and improves the quality of life for all.
Phindile Gogo Ndlovu is a passionate and hardworking backyard farmer from the Tsakane informal settlement near Bela-Bela. Her journey into farming began back in 2011, when she first started growing crops in her backyard. At the time, Phindile was filled with hope and excitement, eager to cultivate her own food and perhaps turn it into a business. However, her early experiences were not as successful as she had hoped.
Gontse Moatshe, a 24-year-old from Phomolong, Modimolle, Limpopo, has seen his life take a positive turn thanks to the Social Employment Fund (SEF). Living with his family, including his mother, three sisters, and a young nephew, Gontse has become a vital support for them.
The Social Employment Fund (SEF), a key component of the Presidential Employment Stimulus (PES) Initiatives and funded by the IDC, plays a vital role in scaling Seriti’s agricultural programme and local Multifunctional Agri-nodes (MFAN) through our Work.Learn.Grow initiative.
The Just Energy Transition (JET) project, led by the Seriti Institute and supported by the UNDP, aimed to gather and analyse community responses from coal mining towns across South Africa. The project’s goal is to ensure an inclusive and participatory transition towards sustainable energy, reflecting the voices and concerns of those most affected by the shift from coal to greener alternatives.
© Copyright 2025 | Seriti Institute. Website Powered by Casson Media | All Rights Reserved | Privacy | Terms
