In the year 2006 in Betrams, just off the border of central Johannesburg and a stone
throw away from the Ellis park Stadium, two unused bowl courts where changed into a
vegetable garden by Maria Maseko. Today Amon Maluleke is the manager of the
Bambanani vegetable garden. He is a full time landscape technician and main
supervisor of the Johannesburg sports grounds not far from there. During his lunch
times, early in the morning and after work he spends his time at the garden. He comes
from the Limpopo area and has finished a certificate in horticultural studies. This is
however not all that he does.
He is currently studying towards a diploma in ornamental horticulture. He has worked on his
brother’s farm where he started to learn to make vegetable gardens as part of his
punishment. This has followed him to Johannesburg and he couldn’t stop making
vegetable gardens since then. The garden has now 8 gardeners of which 2 are full
time employed. Bambanani vegetable gardens deliver vegetables to a few Spar
retailers and to the Bryanston Organic market in the area. It just goes from strength to
strength.
CORNEL VAN HEERDEN 
I visited this garden a couple of years ago — such an interesting and unexpected place. Looks like it’s really grown since I was there.
I really enjoyed this story! They received seeds for Mandela Day if I’m not mistaken. Coming along nicely 🙂