By Maphuti Machabaphala
Tau Leolo, an award winner of Kampioen in the Nasionale Karkas Kompetisie, stores pig carcass destined for markets.
In the heart of Moletlane village, Zebediela within the Capricorn South Agro Ecological Zone under the Lepelle-Nkumpi Local Municipality, is a young farmer, who has turned a modest start into a flourishing piggery business that now serves as shining example of hope and entrepreneurship.
Meet Tau Leolo, the founder of Leolo Holdings Pty Ltd, whose journey began in 2016 with just four pigs gifted by a cousin. What began as a small, reluctant favour quickly grew into a passionate venture. After initial struggles selling live pigs with little profit, Mr Leolo began slaughtering and selling the meat himself. This strategic shift brought him closer to the market and opened doors for success.
As word spread in the community, local tshisanyamas began requesting wors and pork chops, prompting Leolo to create his own recipe for flavoured wors. His chilli, garlic and barbeque varieties have since become local favourites, giving his business a unique edge in the market.
Currently, Leolo Holdings spans seven hectares and is home to more than 250 pigs at various stages – sows, boars, growers and piglets. The farm is equipped with two boreholes, JoJo tanks, a combined pig housing unit and a secure fence. In addition, Leolo plants five hectares of maize to produce feed, that helps alleviate some of the costs and dependency related to commercial feeds.
Leolo Holdings supplies pork to local tshisanyamas, the Mokopane Abattoir and outlets like “Something Meaty” located in Mankweng. With Compliance certificates such as HACCP and SANS standards in place, Leolo Holdings meets national food safety requirements making the piggery enterprise an ideal participator in the market.
Support by Limpopo Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (LDARD) has been instrumental and was implemented through programmes like Letsema and Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme (CASP). Also, the piggery has received animal feed, medication and a borehole valued at over R430,000.
The piggery also plays a vital role in addressing the unemployment rate as in currently employs four permanent workers, all youth, and offers experiential training to agricultural students. His stellar efforts have earned him awards, including the Best Small holder farmer in the Capricorn District and Limpopo, receiving recognition from the MEC of Agriculture and Rural Development, Me Nakedi Kekana.
Looking ahead, Mr Leolo plans to expand to 250 sow units, build a feed mill, have access formal markets, and establish an on-site slaughterhouse, in addition, he plans to build an institute that will offer trainings centred around piggery farming. Despite rising feed costs and fluctuating pork prices, stock theft, lack of contracts, and access to land for expansion, he is tackling challenges head-on through self-produced feed, strengthening relations with traditional authorities, and establishing strategic market partnerships
Leolo Holdings stands as a shining example of youth-led agriculture, growing from passion, grounded in purpose and rooted firmly in the soil of Limpopo.
“As a young farmer, you must never give up. This is not a get rich scheme, its hard work and focus, only on farming.” – Tau Leolo
