Metropolitan Collective Shapers empowers SA’s youth entrepreneurs

South Africa’s total entrepreneurial activity rate among people aged 25 to 34 currently sits at around 9,2%, according to Global Entrepreneurship Research. Within agriculture, persistent barriers remain for emerging farmers, including access to funding, production planning, skills development, and markets.

Hlengwa’s KwaZulu-Natal-based business specialises in the cultivation of diverse, high-quality grains and vegetables to meet local demand and contribute to regional food security. The farm uses a mix of organic and traditional practices to ensure sustainability and yield.

However, like other small-scale farmers, the business initially faced challenges relating to formal systems, financial management, and consistent production planning.

This changed when Hlengwa joined financial services company Metropolitan’s Collective Shapers (MCS) programme, a youth empowerment initiative designed to equip emerging entrepreneurs with specialised knowledge and practical technical skills across key industries.

The programme combines meaningful funding with technical coaching, market access, business skills training, leadership development, national exposure, and real commercial opportunities, helping small businesses not only to survive but to become sustainable.

Since launching as a regional programme in Polokwane in 2021 and later expanding to Tshwane and KwaZulu-Natal, the proven success of and demand for MCS paved the way for a national rollout in 2025.

Through the programme, Hlengwa’s business has strengthened its operational systems, production forecasting, and financial discipline, moving it into a fundable and growth-ready position. Hlengwa says this improved readiness has helped the business unlock access to external funding and additional agricultural training.

The enterprise is also developing an on-site nursery to produce strong, reliable seedlings, thereby reducing costs and ensuring consistent quality across operations, further strengthening its growth capacity.

“The MCS programme has been instrumental in translating knowledge into tangible results. The insights gained allowed us to immediately streamline our administrative operation and production planning, which directly resulted in successfully securing the recent round of funding,” says Hlengwa.

Recognition and credibility

This momentum increased further when Hlengwa was named the 2025 Best eThekwini Farmer at the South African Agricultural Awards, an achievement she attributes to the growth framework, accountability structures, and confidence instilled in her business through MCS.

Beyond skills development, Metropolitan’s partnership has elevated the farm’s professional image. During recent site visits, government officials specifically noted the Metropolitan signage on the property, recognising it as a symbol of credibility, structure, and readiness.

“Our affiliation with Metropolitan has opened doors, built trust [in us], and positioned us as a serious player in the agriculture sector,” explains Hlengwa.

Entrepreneurs like Hlengwa cannot succeed on hustle and inspiration alone; their progress depends on an ecosystem of trust, capital, and support. At Metropolitan, that ecosystem begins quietly with the policyholder who keeps a policy in place month after month, often without ever considering how far its impact might travel.

That support has translated into something tangible: Hlengwa’s business is now hosting and training in-service university students, drawing young people into agriculture and broadening what is possible for the next generation.

In this way, each contribution becomes part of a living exchange. A policyholder helps build an entrepreneur; an entrepreneur, in turn, opens doors for others. This is how legacies are written; not in a single leap, but through a steady cycle of shared investment and progress.

Building financially resilient communities

Metropolitan supports farmers and their workers through practical financial education that promotes better planning, risk management, and informed decision-making. The organisation also encourages farmers to take out funeral cover and savings plans for their employees, ensuring their teams and their families are protected with dignity and financial security.

With the guidance of skilled financial advisers, these responsible choices do more than safeguard households; they strengthen the fabric of entire communities. This commitment to empowering people on the farm and beyond is what drives Metropolitan’s mission to build financially confident, resilient South Africans.

For more info on Metropolitan, visit www.metropolitaninsurance.co.za.