MohairSA works closely with the Mohair Empowerment Trust

In addition to our continuously-evolving guidelines laid down to ensure a thriving and profitable South African mohair industry, we work closely with the Mohair Empowerment Trust to assist emerging farmers in developing successful and sustainable Angora goat farming initiatives.

The Mohair Empowerment Trust is a non-profit organisation focused on uplifting and partnering with black South African farmers who show potential to succeed in the mohair farming industry. Working with Mohair South Africa, the Trust supports, guides and develops the skills of these farmers, helping them to achieve their goals while simultaneously increasing South African production of the luxurious and sought-after mohair fibre.

At a producer level, the goal is to help previously disadvantaged people become financially independent by becoming productive members of the South African mohair industry. The Trust entered 2018 with its first successfully completed project, the Fani brothers in Doornrivier near Somerset-East.

In 2014, the Trust gave Simphiwe and Linda Fani 1000 Angora goats to kickstart the mohair side of their farming business. This investment was worth about R1 million, and was given in the form of an interest-free loan to be repaid as the brothers’ mohair initiative began turning a profit. The brothers took to farming the peaceful goats with a passion, and were able to repay their 5-year loan within only 3 years. Both they and the Trust are eager to continue their mutually-beneficial relationship.

This uplifting success story is a shining example of what Mohair SA and the Mohair Empowerment Trust hope to accomplish. The achievement shows the meaningful and lasting impact these interventions can make, and we are excited to add more success stories to our steadily-growing list.

In addition to supporting emerging farmers, the Trust works alongside the Mohair Growers’ Association for the continuous training and development of farmworkers and shearing teams. An ongoing relationship with Grootfontein College of Agriculture has also seen a number of students receive crucial training in mohair classing.

Partnerships with the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) have yielded great returns with five graduates placed within the mohair industry in a Entrepreneurial Training/ Mentorship Programme, and the Trust is excited about a collaboration with the Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform (DRDAR) to establish an Angora goat pilot project at the Mpofu Training Centre in Fort Beaufort.

For more information, please visit the Mohair Empowerment Trust website, or view our sustainability and social programme info here.