Rural abattoir handed over to Sterkstroom Business to boost jobs and food security

SOUTH AFRICA – A new R5 million (approximately US$279,850) rural abattoir has officially been handed over to Man Buy & Braai, a local family business in Sterkstroom, by the Eastern Cape Department of Agriculture.

The facility is expected to create jobs, cut transport costs for local farmers, and improve access to affordable protein sources in the region.

At the handover event held in early August, Eastern Cape MEC for Agriculture Nonceba Kontsiwe said the investment showed government support for small-scale businesses with a strong track record.

“This is exactly the kind of empowerment I always advocate for supporting individuals and families who have shown capacity, resilience, and fortitude. This handover is not just symbolic; it affirms [the Department of Agriculture’s] belief in this business’s potential to grow, sustain itself, and contribute meaningfully to the local economy,” she said.

The new Man Rural Abattoir can process up to 72 sheep and between 12 to 15 cattle daily. This will help meet growing demand while supporting livestock farmers from nearby rural communities who have long struggled to access formal markets.

Kontsiwe noted that while Sterkstroom is surrounded by farming activity, many residents face high unemployment and poverty. The abattoir will immediately provide 13 direct jobs, with more opportunities expected to emerge through Man Buy & Braai’s outlets and informal meat traders.

Support for local farmers

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” said Phandelani Mazwayi, a local farmer who attended the handover. “We’re now able to cut transport costs by selling [livestock] nearby instead of [having to take the animals] to Queenstown or East London. With this abattoir, we’ll be able to see profit margins improve and meet local demand, which allows us to reinvest and grow.”

“[Sterkstroom] is surrounded by farms, and most jobs are agriculture-based. So, initiatives like this empower not just the abattoir but the local people and farmers, too. It’s a very big step forward,” he added.

Part of a larger strategy

Kontsiwe said the abattoir fits into the Eastern Cape Food and Nutrition Security Plan. The multi-sectoral program aims to reduce hunger and improve nutrition in the province, where 20% of households are severely food insecure.

While 67% of families have access to land, only 37% of it is used productively.

“We are facing a national crisis. The [National Food and Nutrition Security Survey] shows that 20% of households in our province are severely food insecure, despite 67% of them having access to land, as only 37% of that land is productively used,” she said.

The plan also includes training in pest control, crop selection, and climate-smart farming. It was developed in response to growing concern over high rates of malnutrition, including more than 1,000 cases of Severe Acute Malnutrition reported in one year, with 116 deaths.

Kontsiwe said the Sterkstroom abattoir would help link farmers to markets, lower food costs, and support local economic activity.

“This is why investments like the Sterkstroom abattoir matter,” she said. “They give rural communities the tools they need to feed themselves and grow.”

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