Die Baaienaar wat in Zwide grootgeword het, het in 1994 gematrikuleer en toe met ‘n Telkom beurs elektriese ingenieurswese studeer aan die destydse Port Elizabethse Tegnikon. Na sy studies het hy by Telkom gewerk tot 2002, waarna hy en een van sy kollegas hul eie besigheid begin het, wat elektriese komponente verkoop het, "Fibretronics”.
Dit is in die tyd dat Khaya se ma vir hom gesê het dat daar grond naby Hankey is wat voorheen in hul Katoo familie se besit was. "Sy het my mooi gevra om te help dat die familie die grond terug kry. Die familie het tot dusver gesukkel met die proses,” sê Khaya.
"Ons was verheug, maar in 2007 het dinge baie moeilik begin raak, want daar was onmin onder die familie. Almal wou in beheer wees en ek het besluit ek gaan onttrek,” vertel Khaya.
In 2009 was PSB (Patensie Sitrus Beperk) wat ‘n strategiese vennoot (strategy partner) was, baie ongelukkig omdat die bestuur van die plaas baie swak was en die plaas agteruit gegaan het. "Die Departement van Grondsake het my genader en ek het gesê ek sal net terugkom as ek in beheer kan wees,” sê Khaya.
Hy en sy gesin is in 2010 terug en het dadelik aan die werk gespring om die plaas aan die gang te kry. "Ek het dadelik die een deel, Rooivlakte, begin uitverhuur aan Pietie Ferreira, wie ook ‘n mentor vir my is. Die Humansdorp Koöperasie het ook as ‘n strategiese vennoot (strategy partner) aan boord gekom.”
"Ek wou graag op my eie boer en het in 2013 saam met my vrou en ses ander aandeelhouers die plaas, Boplaas op Patensie bekom en het die Ko-op Entabeni gestig.
Khaya sê hy geniet dit om te boer en is baie gelukkig in die Gamtoosvallei. "Dit was ‘n groot aanpassing aan die begin en die mense het my maar snaaks aangekyk, maar ek het baie goeie verhoudings opgebou.”
Khaya sê hy is baie bly om deel te wees van die Gamtoos Besproeiingsraad. "Ek voel baie tuis in die span en leer baie by mense soos Pierre, Rienette en Leon.” sê Khaya.
"Ek is baie positief oor die toekoms,”sê Khaya. "Die bome lyk goed en ons glo die reën is oppad.”
He grew up in Zwede in Port Elizabeth, matriculated in 1994 and studied electrical engineering at the then Port Elizabeth Technicon. After his studies he worked at Telkom till 2002 when he and one of his colleagues started their own electrical components company, "Fibretronics”.
It was during this time that his mother told him about a piece of land near Hankey that belonged to the Katoo-family. "She asked me to help the family to get the land back. They’ve struggled for a long time with the process,” he said.
With a lot of effort that even made it to the ministers' desk, Khaya managed to acquire the 360ha Roodefontein outside Hankey. However the terrain was not suited for farming. The Department of Land Affairs mediated for the two farms, Rooivlakte and Kah, which together made up the size of Roodefontein, to be handed over to the Katoo family.
"We were very glad, but in 2007 things started getting difficult because of turmoil in the family. Everybody wanted to be in control and I decided to withdraw,” Khaya said.
In 2009 PSB (Patensie Sitrus Beperk), who was a strategy partner, was very unhappy about the poor management and decline of the farm. "The Department of Land Affairs contacted me and I said I would only come back if I can be in control,”Khaya said.
He, his wife and children moved to the farm in 2010. "The first thing we did was to rent Rooivlakte to Pietie Ferreira, who was also one of my mentors. The Humansdorp Co-op became a strategy partner.”
"I wanted to farm on my own as well and in 2013 my wife and I and six other investors acquired Boplaas Farm near Patensie and founded the Co-op Entabeni.
Khaya says he is very happy in the Gamtoos Valley, although it was very challenging in the beginning. "It was very difficult, but I have built a lot of meaningful relationships.”
Khaya says he is very glad to be part of the Gamtoos Irrigation Board. "I already feel at home and part of the team. I learn a lot from Pierre, Rienette and Leon.”
"I am very positive about the future,”Khaya says. "The trees look good and we believe the rain is on its way.”