Three Limpopo Cousins Turn Abandoned School Into Academy That Has Trained 20,000 Farm Workers

In the early 2000s, three cousins walked into a derelict, abandoned schoolyard in Mosehleng village, Limpopo, and resolved not to leave until they had formulated a plan. Standing among overgrown classrooms and broken windows, Jerry, Tys, and James Tjale made a commitment that would steadily transform agricultural training across the province.

The family members repurposed the neglected grounds into Bokamoso Farmers’ Academy, a operating agricultural institute. Since its inception, the academy has trained over 20,000 workers in key farming skills.The venture generates around R5 million in annual revenue, sustains roughly 50 local jobs, and operates a 130-hectare working farm where enrolled students participate in crop production, livestock care, and commercial farm administration.

Limpopo’s Department of Agriculture has acknowledged the initiative, highlighting rural programs of this magnitude as an ongoing priority. However, departmental officials noted that independently audited enrolment numbers and verified financial stability remain essential benchmarks for the school to maintain its recognized provincial standing.

Before the Tjale family stepped in, Mosehleng, located outside Polokwane, offered few local economic opportunities. With the nearest formal training facility situated more than 60 kilometers away, young residents were routinely forced to migrate to urban centers or give up their ambitions in commercial farming, draining the surrounding workforce.

Today, a thick, handwritten register sits on the reception desk at the academy’s main office, containing names of first-generation farmers from distant rural districts who traveled hours to enroll. Jerry Tjale keeps the earliest record book stored inside a wooden cabinet built during the academy’s initial construction phase.

While the institution serves as an inspiring example of community-led development, long-term operational questions remain. Managing expansion without overextending resources presents an ongoing test for the family-run academy as demand for practical agricultural education continues to rise across the region.

https://x.com/MzansiThirdEye/status/2112433154246004948

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