MTO Forestry has awarded Nwabisa Mpompo, owner and director of Bamanye Construction Services, the silviculture contract for its Southern Cape Knysna plantation.

Earlier this year, MTO presented Nwabisa with the opportunity to be the main silviculture contractor at its Garcia plantation near Riversdale in the Western Cape. She seized the opportunity, and the three-year contract began on 10 June 2024.

Nwabisa's teams specialise in clearing and burning slash, spreading branches, spraying herbicides, pitting and planting pine seedlings and applying fertiliser. They have all participated in health, safety, first aid and firefighting training.

Nwabisa says she is grateful to MTO for encouraging and assisting her. She also receives assistance from the plantation management staff and a group of mentors from Nelson Mandela University (NMU). Sinoxolo "Sino" Sixaka, MTO's community liaison officer, reports to Itumeleng Langeni, head of the stakeholder relations and communications department.

"We gave Nwabisa an opportunity, and although she was hesitant at first, her willingness to listen and learn from others is bearing fruit", says Itumeleng. "Nwabisa is proof that our enterprise development programme and partnership with NMU is making a difference".

"When you run a business, there are days where the challenges you face are so high that you wonder why you are doing it," comments Nwabisa. "I always learn from good and bad experiences. My advice to other women in forestry is to be confident and never give up".