Phenyo Nthase: Gone But Not Forgotten

_{Article by Kedi van der Westhuizen}

“Your labor is done; your home now is heaven; no more must you wait. Your legacy lives on, your love of the land, and we will close the gate.”

October 2022 is the month the farming community lost the son of the soil, one of the pioneers of stud Brahman breeding within the borders of Botswana. Phenyo Nthase. Mr Nthase was born in the small village of Mookane and grew up to become a brahman breeder of note, using genetics from as far as the USA and Brazil.

Speaking at a memorial service held in his honour, speakers stressed that he was a man of integrity. He was described as a man who uplifted others and always wanted to see those around him succeed.

It was stated you could have never met him and left without an impression. Although he was soft spoken, a lot described him as loud when it comes to farming. Nthase’s passion for farming was visible, and clear. He has birthed many agricultural projects including construction of the national agricultural show arena, Top 4 Sale and Mookane Farmers’ field day, to name but a few. Further to this, Nthase passed on having held a couple of Brahman courses for local breeders as well as having started an embryo plant.

Obadiah Steven Motsamai (BW); Phenyo was a man of integrity, he was a brother to me. He called me Makatane even though I was his expert in Veterinary Medicine. One thing that stood out about this man is that he was very intelligent and well read. He could never come to you without having read on the subject and all the time we conversed he would say, “nnyaa mme o botlhale Makatane”. Nthase was soft spoken yet very loud to him. He was a “soft man”, yet he was a man who never backed off when rubbed the wrong way.

Thebe Setlalekgosi (BW); A close ally of Nthase, Thebe described Nthase as a brother from another mother. He explained that they grew up together in Mookane Village though Phenyo was a little older than him. They would later meet when older and he introduced them to farming. “He held our hands and all the good work you see at TCs and T4S is Nthase’s handwork. He held our hands and only wanted what is best for us. When we were now settled he suggested we give them back to the community and that’s how Mookane Farmer’s Day was formed. As an honour for all the good work he has done for us, we chose to make him a lifetime Chairman of Mookane Farmers Field Day”. Further to this, Nthase was also the brains behind Top 3 which is now Top 4.

Uyapo Bakani (BW); “Mr Nthase was a brother to all of us, ever patient and ever smiling. We talked a lot about farming in general and was to meet soon but fate would have its way. I will dearly miss him as he had become one of those people I turn to every time I needed advice and support and he would avail himself at all times. May his soul rest in peace”.

Kgosiemang Difolokwe (RSA); Though I have never met the man, I am grateful for his impact in the farming industry. We felt his voice in South Africa. We followed him on the social media platforms and there was no way you could avoid his teachings. He came across as a humble, calm and respectful man and we will forever cherish that. On behalf of RSA, The Brahman breeders, Botswana as a whole, we have lost a mentor and we shall hold onto his teachings and the passion he displayed.