Kuhle Nyathi
A LUPANE State University lecturer Makhosi Mahlangu and fellow academic Clifton Menelisi Mbiba have established a meat processing plant in Lupane
Mahlangu and Mbiba, an animal scientist, kick started the project in 2020 at the peak of Covid-19 when the country was under a strict lockdown.
“We decided to start a meat processing unit considering the expertise between us. I had also learnt a lot from food processing, and production of cured meats in Italy and Spain,” Mahlangu said.
“This experience combined with Mbiba’s knowledge and expertise on animals was to us a perfect recipe for success in our endeavor.”
The duo has been experimenting on meat products since last year and are giving the final push to their polony product which has reportedly gained interest from the Lupane market.
They also launched Isikhupha, a traditional cold meat delicacy.
Makhosi says they source most of their products from villagers in Lupane.
“The villagers offer numerous undocumented food products of commercial value which we are steadily unpacking. I am also from the region and it makes me proud to be involved in meat processing,” Mahlangu said.
“We have seen an interest in the products we have made with specific reference to goat meatballs, goat mince and goat sausages. We have also experimented on fish sausages considering that Lupane has a dam (a source of fish).”
He added: “Me and my business partner Cliff literally experiment on a number of meat products. We are also working on duck meat. The interesting thing is that when we get to taste all the products we work on.
“Social media platforms have been pretty much favorable to us in marketing as it have helped us break-through the Covid-19 limitations.”
Technology has managed to disrupt normal business operations and created new business models for entrepreneurs for instance with marketing which can be done using social media.
