Neo Leburu: farmer

Women in Agriculture: Neo Leburu

We continue with the theme of remarkable women. This time we look at a tough and difficult job: farming. When they say ‘future is female’, there are actually women leading the forefront and making ‘present is female’ in various industries. Neo Leburu is taking the agricultural sector by storm by quitting her day job to fully farm with goats. She fell in love with goats when a doe (female goat) and two kids (literally the kids of the goat), were gifted to her mother. Since then she has never looked back and has chosen her love for goats over a job in the big city Johannesburg.

By profession, she is a qualified sound engineer with a diploma in administration. Even though she had the job, her love for farming was calling her back to her rural home in Ganyesa near Vryburg in the North West.

Leburu is an advocate for women, and she is keen on sharing information with others. “I do not have much but there are a lot of equally passionate young women out there whom I interact with on Facebook and they show a lot of interest in farming. They engage on the subject. I am here for them and one day I will take many of them under my wings and empower them in all possible ways” Leburu said.

One of the other reasons why Neo Leburu is farming with goats is because the goat industry is thriving. As she puts it, she is happy at how her goats have multiplied over the years and continue to as she strives to get to that stage of a thriving goat farm.

Her intention and vision is to grow into a stud breeder dealing with specifically Boer Goats while at the same time selling the meat and other goat products.

However, she acknowledge that there are challenges with farming. The cash flow is very important. In fact, she is running a takeaway and delivery food business to sustain her farm. Despite these challenges, Leburu affirms that she finds joy and self-fulfilment in the Kraal. With this, her love for farming is expected to multiply and have a ripple effect on others as she not only aims to inspire, but to being an employer. Why goats? Goats are a great source of in come. Because of their small size, adaptive feed behaviour and low management, goats are a viable option in improv ing household cash flow. They are also a valuable source of rich milk and tasty meat. Goats also provide skins of commercial importance and manure for gardens and crop fields. from here Masiziba Hadebe.

What is NSFAS? The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) is a government entity under the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET)

What does NSFAS do?

Supports access to and success in, higher education and training for students from poor and working-class families who would otherwise not be able to afford the cost of studies at a public university or Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) college. • Provides financial aid to eligible students who are studying or plan to study at any of the 50 TVET colleges or the 26 public universities in South Africa • Identifies students who qualify for the bursary • Provides bursaries to students

Who qualifies for NSFAS funding?

• All South African citizens • All SASSA grant recipients • Applicants whose combined household income is not more than R350 000 per annum • Persons with disabilities with a combined household income of not more than R600 000 per annum • Students who started studying at a university before 2018 and whose household income is not more than R122 000 per annum

What does the NSFAS bursary cover? • Registration • Tuition • Book allowance • Accommodation allowance • Transport allowance • Food allowance • Personal care allowance

Does the NSFAS bursary offer any additional support for students with disabilities? Yes, NSFAS further supports funded students with disabilities through an additional allowance that covers:

• Medical assessments • Assistive devices • Human support to cover for the cost of a caregiver, guide dog, scribe or tutor.

How, where and when can one apply for NSFAS?

The 2021 application season will be communicated through media, social media and the NSFAS website www.nsfas.org.za. Applications are submitted online through the NSFAS website: www.nsfas.org.za

To apply for NSFAS funding students must have a registered myNSFAS account. If you plan to study in 2021 and require support from NSFAS, you may open your myNSFAS account now to keep updated with the latest funding information.

Connect with us using the following channels:

National Student Financial Aid Scheme myNSFAS myNSFAS

NSFAS Connect: www.nsfas.org.za and log into your myNSFAS account