There was jubilation at the Women Entrepreneur Awards (WEA) hosted to recognise efforts made by women in the agriculture sector in the Alfred Nzo District.
Women farmers were rewarded for their efforts in food security at an award ceremony organized by the Eastern Cape Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform in Maluti.
The big award for the day went to Nolukhaya Madiba of Madiba’s Livestock and Poultry from Mt Frere, who walked away with R60 000.
Madiba, who runs a poultry and vegetables enterprise with four other women was named the best in small holder category where she received R30 000. She became the district’s overall winner for 2024, bagging another R30 000.
The other winners included Yonela Qengwa from Ntabankulu who was named the Female Worker of the Year, winning R10 000 while the Phikwa Project, also from Ntabankulu and owned by Nomanono Phikwa, won R15 000 in the subsistence farming category. Siyaphambili Ngendyebo, led by Iva Mdungane from Matatielle, who won R10 000.
In the smallholder category, Zakhe Evergreen from Matatiele led by Duduzile Mokhesi, won R25 000. The Ntabankulu Local Municipality also won the prize of being the best Municipality in the district by winning more awards than other municipalities.
