Mthatha young farmer, Sphesihle Kwetana, was the biggest winner at the provincial Women\u2019s Entrepreneur Awards (WEA), as she walked away with the coveted award of provincial overall winner, and first prize in the commercial farmer category.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The awards are meant to recognise women involved in the agricultural sector in various capacities, from subsistence to commercial level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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 \u2019n Pay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe 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,\u201d said Kwetana.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kwetana walked away with a R320 000 cash reward for the two categories she won at the WEA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe 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,\u201d said WEA provincial co-ordinator, Vuyo Menze.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Menze said that winners are further given capacity-building training, as well as agricultural inputs and equipment needed for their agricultural enterprises to succeed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
MEC Special Award \u2013 Youth <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Runner-up: Cebokazi Galashe\u2013 R25 000 <\/p>\n\n\n\n Winner: Neziswa Mlenzana \u2013 R50 000 <\/p>\n\n\n\n MEC Special Award \u2013 Woman with Disability <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Runner-up: Nowangile Jolwana \u2013 R25 000 <\/p>\n\n\n\n Winner: Kholiswa Dabula \u2013 R50 000 <\/p>\n\n\n\n Best Female Worker <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Runner-up: Linda Mgedezi \u2013 R25 000 <\/p>\n\n\n\n Winner: Akhumzi Mkhontwana \u2013 R50 000 <\/p>\n\n\n\n Best Subsistence Producer <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Runner-up: Nomfesane Tshekela \u2013 R50 000<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winner: Nomalizo Mafanga \u2013 R75 000 <\/p>\n\n\n\n Best Smallholder Producer <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Runner-up: Tobela Mapukata \u2013 R80 000 <\/p>\n\n\n\n Winner: Nontuthuzelo Mbebe \u2013 R120 000 <\/p>\n\n\n\n Best Agro-Processor <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Winner: Tuliswa Mondliwa \u2013 R80 000 <\/p>\n\n\n\n Winner: Nokuzola James \u2013 R120 000 <\/p>\n\n\n\n Best Commercial Producer <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Runner-up: Sinovuyo Nzukuma \u2013 R80 000 <\/p>\n\n\n\n Winner: Siphesihle Kwetana \u2013 R120 000 <\/p>\n\n\n\n Overall Winner: Siphesihle Kwetana \u2013 R200 000<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Mthatha young farmer, Sphesihle Kwetana, was the biggest winner at the provincial Women\u2019s Entrepreneur Awards (WEA), as she walked away with the coveted award of provincial overall winner, and first prize in the commercial farmer 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