In a bid to inspire South Africa’s youth and tackle the country’s dual crises of food insecurity and unemployment, Mangosuthu University of Technology graduate Sphindile Xulu took part in an agricultural radio show this week, where she urged young people to look to the soil for their future.
Xulu, an alumnus of MUT’s Department of Agricultural Extension and Sustainable Food Systems (formerly the Department of Agriculture of Community Extension), sacrificed half of her night on 1 July 2026 to speak on Ukhozi FM. The SABC station boasts a massive audience of more than 7 million listeners.
Speaking with Londa Mbatha, host of ‘Cobela kufalaza, mlimi’ show, Xulu opened up about the unique name of her farming enterprise: AgriGlam. The name, she explained, is a deliberate blend of “Agriculture” and “Glamour.” It was created specifically to dismantle the persistent stereotype that farming is only for the uneducated or unrefined. Xulu emphasised that she proudly maintains her glamour while remaining deeply, physically involved in her daily agricultural operations.
Xulu has been successfully running her agricultural project since 2023. She does not do it alone; she partners with her sister, Ntokozo Xulu, a graduate of the Durban University of Technology (DUT). Together, the sisters manage a diverse and productive farm. Their farming includes cultivating high-demand produce, including spinach, sweet potatoes, peppers, and cabbage, and managing a full-cycle chicken operation. “We raise chicks from the time they are hatched, and sell them when they are fully grown, at six weeks,” Xulu shared during the interview.
This recent national broadcast is far from Xulu’s first time in the spotlight. The award-winning farmer has become a regular and vital voice on radio stations, consistently advocating for agriculture as a tool to chip away at poverty and make a measurable dent in youth unemployment rates. Prior to her Ukhozi FM appearance, Xulu featured on Umlazi FM’s Midmorning Zone on April 8, 2025, where she led a deep-dive discussion on empowering local youth through sustainable farming practices.
As the agricultural sector continues to evolve, trailblazers like Xulu are proving that farming is not just a traditional means of survival, but a viable, modern, and “glamorous” career path for the next generation of South African leaders.