Umsonti’s Work
Operational support and mentorship
Umsonti is committed to building self-reliance amongst the enterprises it supports. This is achieved through installing professional management systems and providing long-term operational support and mentorship to the business managers and the governance institutions within the community. The cost of support services is built into business plans, establishing a professional relationship between community partners and Umsonti and other service providers. Payment for services ensures the businesses are not dependent on short term and unsustainable project funding. Providing access to further education and training is also a key feature in Umsonti’s operational support and mentorship model.
Institutional development and governance
The diagram shows the institutional model Umsonti has developed for the ownership and management of community-owned businesses. The key to this model is a separation between ownership of assets and management of the businesses. Full or majority ownership of the community assets vests in Community Trusts. Separate companies are formed to manage the businesses. Umsonti provides regular support, mentorship and training for Community Trusts in financial and fiduciary responsibilities
Education and training
The Umgano Training Academy is now well established at its premises at the Mabandla Cultural centre. The Academy is well placed to offer a wider range of short courses and learnerships to community youth and current employees of community-owned businesses at Mabandla and other partner communities.
A number of students at Mabandla, including current Umgano DevCo CEO Zweli Baleni, have completed diplomas, degrees and post graduate studies funded by the forestry business and/or bursaries.
Forestry and wood processing
Umsonti’s roots are in commercial forestry. Founder members Peter Nixon and Themba Radebe are commercial foresters who have been providing support to community-owned forestry businesses for the past three decades. Umgano Forestry and Umgano Timbers are located at Mabandla in the Umzimkhulu Municipality in southern KwaZulu Natal. Neighbouring communities at Zintwala and Sihleza have also established timber plantations with support and mentorship from Umsonti. A pole treatment plant for use by all three community-owned businesses is in the pipeline. Down-stream timber processing capacity is key to creating additional jobs and increased revenue for the local community.
Umsonti is also currently active in the north-eastern Cape, where agroforestry has significant potential. At Chevy-Chase, jungle wattle is being converted into managed plantations, yielding pulpwood, firewood as well as improved grazing and water supplies. Additional areas of commercial timber plantations are to be established, with 450 hectares planned. At Ludidi, the community has allocated an area 1650 hectares for timber plantations and there is significant potential to improve livestock and crop production. Phase 1 of the Business plan, a total of roughly 930Ha of greenfield forestry plantings, will commence when funding is secured.
Agriculture and livestock production
Umsonti is committed to an integrated development model that combines forestry and wood processing with other sustainable forms of land use including livestock and crop production and ecotourism.
A large scale agro-processing business plan has been developed at Mabandla with a targeted annual turnover of R 45 million and employment of an additional 320 local people. Implementation of this ambitious plan is however currently on hold, pending the completion of an EIA as required by legislation, as well as sorting out the land ownership complication with DRDLR. The Mabandla livestock association was formed as a vehicle for commercial beef production.
At Chevy-Chase support has been provided through LandCare and the Eastern Cape Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform (EC DRDAR) for an agroforestry programme that combines wattle clearing, plantation establishment, pasture improvement and crop production. In 2020, 120 hectares of communal land was fenced and 30Ha planted to maize as well as grass for winter cattle feed. Umsonti also facilitates marketing partnerships through linking local cattle producers to cattle auctions run by Meat Naturally. The first auction at Chevy Chase resulted in sales of 282 animals and an income for ordinary members of the community of R2.27 million.
Eco-tourism and conservation
Conservation and ecotourism often go hand in hand with forestry. Areas of high forestry potential tend to be in bio-diverse and scenic mountainous terrain. These areas support mountain grasslands and indigenous forests of high conservation value. Protection of high conservation value resources is integral to sustainable management of timber plantations and a requirement of FSC certification. The 1400 hectare Mabandla Nature Reserve (link to Umgano Conservation and EcoAdventures) was established under the umbrella of the Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife Biodiversity Stewardship Programme. The reserve provides an ideal platform for tourism activities including fly fishing, kayaking, river rafting, abseiling, mountain biking, birding and hiking.
There are also significant opportunities for conservation-based employment and revenue amongst our partners in the north eastern Cape area in the foothills of the Drakensberg mountains.
Overview of community partners and programmes underway
Partner community
Agriculture & livestock
Eco-tourism and environment
Education and training
Mabandla
Umgano Forestry
Umgano Timbers
Livestock Association
Umgano AgriCo (held up by EIA)
Ezemvelo Wildlife Bio-Diversity Stewardship Programme and Nature Reserve
Umgano Eco-tourism
Umgano Training Academy
Bursaries for local youth
Sihleza
Sihleza forestry
Land Care
Siyazenzela Honey and Jam processing facility
Make use of Umgano Training Academy
Zintwala
Zintwala forestry
Pole treatment plant (in development)
(Umgano, Sihleza, Zintwala combined facility)
Co-owners of Siyazenzela Honey and Jam processing facility
Make use of Umgano Training Academy
Chevy Chase
Wattle jungle clearing and timber production
Timber plantations (wattle already established, pine and gum in planning stage)
Pasture improvement and grazing camp establishment
Maize production
LandCare programme to clear jungle wattle
Ludidi
Timber plantations (High potential area for pine and gum)
High potential to improve crop and livestock production
High ecotourism potential
Partner community
Mabandla
Umgano Forestry
Umgano Timbers
Sihleza
Sihleza forestry
Zintwala
Zintwala forestry
Pole treatment plant (in development)
(Umgano, Sihleza, Zintwala combined facility)
Chevy Chase
Wattle jungle clearing and timber production
Timber plantations (wattle already established, pine and gum in planning stage)
Ludidi
Timber plantations (High potential area for pine and gum)
Partner community
Agriculture & livestock
Mabandla
Livestock Association
Umgano AgriCo (held up by EIA)
Sihleza
Land Care
Siyazenzela Honey and Jam processing facility
Zintwala
Co-owners of Siyazenzela Honey and Jam processing facility
Chevy Chase
Pasture improvement and grazing camp establishment
Maize production
Ludidi
High potential to improve crop and livestock production
Partner community
Eco-tourism and environment
Mabandla
Ezemvelo Wildlife Bio-Diversity Stewardship Programme and Nature Reserve
Umgano Eco-tourism
Sihleza
Make use of Umgano Training Academy
Zintwala
Chevy Chase
LandCare programme to clear jungle wattle
Ludidi
High ecotourism potential
Partner community
Education and training
Mabandla
Umgano Training Academy
Bursaries for local youth
Sihleza
Make use of Umgano Training Academy
Zintwala
Make use of Umgano Training Academy
Chevy Chase
Ludidi
Contact Us.
Please use the the form or the details below to get in touch with us.