26 It all began in early 2018, in the local club, when one of my neighbours approached me. She spoke about a young man she believed had great potential and asked if I could help him through NCT. At the time, we didn’t have an open position, but after meeting Sphumelele, I saw what she meant. Sphumelele Thembinkosi Mlaba, born in Richmond, KZN, and raised on The Hill Farm, had grown up as an only child in a small family. Like many young people, he dreamed of achieving great things, but life’s path was uncertain. In 2017, just after matric, he began his forestry journey as a storeman at NCT Baynesfield. It was his first job, and he was still figuring out his place in the working world — but his positive attitude, reliability, and willingness to learn quickly stood out. At that time, NCT was going through a period of increased compliance demands — FSC requirements, health and safety obligations, and other legal standards. I saw an opportunity to create a storeman role that would not only help us manage daily stock control but also strengthen our compliance efforts. Sphumelele took on the challenge. He initially had ambitions of studying agriculture at Cedara, but we agreed that Saasveld might be a better fit. Unfortunately, he didn’t meet the criteria, so we shifted our focus to alternative development opportunities. One milestone was his driver’s license — a step that gave him more independence and turned him from “the walking hazard” into a real asset in our operations. As time went on, his commitment and capability became more evident. I began exploring training programmes that could support his growth, and by chance, LESH was launching a two-year Forestry Foreman course for SAPPI and Mondi in the Richmond area. They kindly made space for him. Around the same time, staff changes opened an admin clerk position at Baynesfield, which Sphumelele gladly accepted. This role gave him deeper exposure to forestry operations — both in the office and in the field. He attended short forestry-related courses, building a strong foundation for his career. Then came the big one: the Foreman Development Programme (SDP). Competing against participants from other companies, Sphumelele excelled, achieving the highest marks in the group — a moment of pride not only for him but for NCT as a whole. A few years later, another round of staff changes created an assistant forester position, and Sphumelele was my immediate choice. His good attitude, level-headed nature, resilience in tough times, and sense of humour made him an invaluable part of the team. Today, he serves as one of NCT Baynesfield’s foremen — a role he embraces with the same dedication and drive that have marked his journey from the very beginning. Reflecting on his path, Sphumelele says: “I never imagined I’d be felling trees one day, but forestry has given me a career I love. Through hard work, dedication, and the support of those who believed in me, I’ve grown from a storeman to a foreman. I’m still learning, still striving to be better, and I’ll always be grateful to NCT for investing in the life of a boy who just needed an opportunity to shine.” His Area Manager shares this message in recognition of his growth: “Congratulations to Sphume from Tree Farming. In an ever-evolving business world, leaders must constantly and holistically evaluate their most valuable commodity — human capital. Cherishing, developing, and retaining talent is not just important; it’s essential. When uncut gems pass your way, you hold onto them, polish them, and align them with the future and the organisation’s goals. Apparently, Pete O’Dell on Baynesfield has an eye for spotting such gems and has played this role in many people’s lives. Well done, Pete, and keep doing so.” TREE FARMING Sphume’s graduation day From Potential to Forestry Leader The Journey of Sphumelele Thembinkosi Mlaba
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