Mthatha young farmer, Sphesihle Kwetana, was the biggest winner at the provincial Women’s Entrepreneur Awards (WEA), as she walked away with the coveted award of provincial overall winner, and first prize in the commercial farmer category.
Kwetana (28) triumphed during the glittering provincial WEA awards ceremony hosted by the provincial Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform (DRDAR) at the Qumbu Multipurpose Centre, on August 18.
The awards are meant to recognise women involved in the agricultural sector in various capacities, from subsistence to commercial level.
Kwetana runs a successful agricultural enterprise that involves piggery, poultry, vegetable and selling seedlings. She sells her produce at retail stores such as Spar and Pick ’n Pay.
“The prize money I won will be used for staff salaries, buying equipment for a butchery that I have built at Kaplan Village, and also investing some in the aquaculture project that I will be embarking on,” said Kwetana.
Kwetana walked away with a R320 000 cash reward for the two categories she won at the WEA.
Eastern Cape Rural Development and Agrarian Reform MEC, Nonkqubela Pieters, also bestowed the MEC Special Award-Woman with Disability on Kholiswa Dabula, who was left partially blind after a gruesome attack in Cape Town.
Despite being partially blind, Dabula did not let her sudden disability stand in her way and started growing spinach in her backyard which she sells when in surplus.
“The department, through the WEA, recognises that women have the skills and determination to be at the forefront of rural development through agriculture. Their agricultural enterprises also create employment opportunities, and the awards are meant to encourage and recognise their strides in agriculture,” said WEA provincial co-ordinator, Vuyo Menze.
Menze said that winners are further given capacity-building training, as well as agricultural inputs and equipment needed for their agricultural enterprises to succeed.
All women-owned businesses that participated in the provincial awards were winners of district awards, where they took home top prizes in different categories which made them eligible to compete for provincial honours.
The full list of winners at the Women Entrepreneur Awards provincial finals:
MEC Special Award – Youth
Runner-up: Cebokazi Galashe– R25 000
Winner: Neziswa Mlenzana – R50 000
MEC Special Award – Woman with Disability
Runner-up: Nowangile Jolwana – R25 000
Winner: Kholiswa Dabula – R50 000
Best Female Worker
Runner-up: Linda Mgedezi – R25 000
Winner: Akhumzi Mkhontwana – R50 000
Best Subsistence Producer
Runner-up: Nomfesane Tshekela – R50 000
Winner: Nomalizo Mafanga – R75 000
Best Smallholder Producer
Runner-up: Tobela Mapukata – R80 000
Winner: Nontuthuzelo Mbebe – R120 000
Best Agro-Processor
Winner: Tuliswa Mondliwa – R80 000
Winner: Nokuzola James – R120 000
Best Commercial Producer
Runner-up: Sinovuyo Nzukuma – R80 000
Winner: Siphesihle Kwetana – R120 000
Overall Winner: Siphesihle Kwetana – R200 000
