The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF), in partnership with Total South Africa hosted the annual DAFF Female Entrepreneur of the Year Awards at a gala dinner in Mafikeng, North West yesterday, 22 August 2014. The awards were held at Mmabatho Convention Centre.
This year marks the 14th anniversary of the awards under the theme “Recognising the role of women and their contribution to Africa’s Agriculture and Food Security”
In his congratulatory remarks Minister Senzeni Zokwana said “let us be proud of women and recognise them for their ability to feed, not only their families but the world”.
Minister Zokwana further highlighted that one of the major objectives of the awards is to open export market opportunities for female farmers. He added that, “it is about time we highlight the contribution made by women in the sector that is often regarded as the terrain of men”.
In her address, the General Manager: Strategy at Total South Africa Ms Pansy Mekwa said, “across Africa, female farmers produce more than 70% of the continent’s food, but their efforts and ability are most often overlooked. The Female Entrepreneur of the Year Award seeks to change all that, highlighting the stories of successful emergent female farmers across the country”.
She further added that “these are stories of hard work and innovation of women who overcome what are often seemingly insurmountable odds to turn ‘making a living’ into running a thriving business. They stand as inspiration to their communities, who benefit from their farming activities, either through food security or the creation of jobs”.
The awards commence at a provincial level and culminate to the national awards. It was conceptualised to encourage and increase the participation of women, youth and people living with disabilities in the agriculture, forestry and fisheries sectors.
The programme is in line with government’s programme of action as it seeks to contribute in the following priorities – mainstreaming of women, youth and people with disabilities in the agriculture, forestry and fisheries sectors through food security, job creation, economic growth and poverty alleviation.
The awards categories and winners are:
- Best Female Worker in the Sector and the winner is Hawukile Makhanya from KwaZulu-Natal
- Best Subsistence Producer in the Sector and the winner is Thandeka Moseki from North West
- Top Entrepreneur in the Sector: Smallholder and the winner is Sandra Kroutz from Gauteng
- Top Entrepreneur Processing in the Sector and the winner is Anne Ruthford from Western Cape
- Top Female Entrepreneur in the Sector: Commercial and the winner is Mponeng Lentoro from Free State
- Top Entrepreneur in the Sector: Export Markets and the winner is Nokwanele Mzamo from Eastern Cape
The Minister’s special award went to Linah Mahlangu from Mpumalanga. This award offers an opportunity for the Minister to acknowledge the contribution of young women and women living with disabilities who are entrepreneurs. The Minister’s special award on youth went to Leah Skosana from Mpumalanga. This award recognising youth coming up.
The 2014/15 Overall Winner went to Ivy Nokwanele Mzamo from Eastern Cape. The reigning female entrepreneur of the year will be in this position up until August 2015 when the new overall winner will be announced.
For further information please contact:
Ms Makenosi Maroo
Chief Director: Stakeholder Relations and Communications
Tel: 012 319 6787
Cell: 072 475 2956
E-mail: MakenosiM@daff.gov.za
