Across developing economies, land is often the most underutilised productive asset. When structured, secured, and integrated into local value chains, it becomes a platform for jobs, enterprise formation, and climate resilience.
From 24–26 February 2026, Jacob’s Ladder Africa – South Africa (JLA-ZA) partnered with the Matzikama Local Municipality to initiate the first phase of development at Erf 771 in Vredendal. Over three days, youth and community members fenced the site formally transitioning dormant municipal land into protected productive infrastructure.
This land is soon to host:
- Netted greenhouse structures
- Youth managed hydroponic vegetable production
- Nursery operations cultivating tree seedlings for municipal greening
- Solar learnership programmes linked to green infrastructure
- Enterprise development pathways for women traders
- Waste management and municipal beautification initiatives
The collaboration extended beyond the municipality to include Coca-Cola, PMC Training, Western Cape Department of Agriculture, Tronox Mine, as well as local farmers and stakeholders whose practical support translated ambition into measurable progress.
The sequencing matters. Securing land establishes asset integrity, which enables infrastructure deployment, which in turn supports enterprise generation. It is the first operational step in building a localised green production ecosystem.
South Africa continues to face elevated youth unemployment, exceeding 40%. Although agriculture contributes approximately 2–3% of national GDP its local multiplier effects are substantial when linked to value addition and municipal procurement systems. Rural municipalities require interventions that combine skills development, enterprise incubation, and productive asset use.
In Matzikama, JLA-ZA is operating as a catalytic integrator, aligning municipal land, youth labour, technical training, private-sector collaboration, and enterprise pathways into a single coordinated platform with the result being youth who understand production, manage assets, generate revenue, and take responsibility for local economic growth.
Call for Strategic Partnership
JLA-ZA is actively seeking to partner with organisations invested in youth enterprise, land productivity, and locally anchored economic growth. We welcome strategic partnerships that move beyond rhetoric and into execution.
If your institution is ready to co-build scalable, youth-led production ecosystems, connect with us:
Email: jlsainfo@jacobsladder.africa
