Female Farmer of the Year Winners Gauteng Province

Ms Frederica Malebatje (Project Chair Person) - Informal Markets Category


The Winnie Mandela Project was initiated in 1996.
The group applied for assistance from GDACE and was approved in 1998. The project produces cabbages, spinach, beetroot, carrots, onions, lettuce, cauliflower, turnips and green Peppers. They started a compost heap and produced their own seedlings.

The produce is sold to local hawkers. Members are able to take vegetables home twice a week, depending on what is grown at the time. The project provides permanent work for Eight (8) Women.

Ms Maria Phiri (Project Chair Person) - Household Category

Rethabiseng Project is situated in Bronkhortspruit at Rethabiseng village and has Eight (8) members. A variety of vegetables are produced and fruit trees were planted. Spades and forks are used to cultivate the land from 7:00 in the morning till 15:00 in the afternoon. Every Friday they share vegetables among themselves for home consumption. Vegetables are also sold to members of the community.

Ms Yvonne Molefe - National Markets Category

Ms Molefe purchased a farm in Pyramid, north of Pretoria and started farming with pigs. She started with five sows and one boar, and currently has 1003 pigs. The project, called Misty Sea Trading also has chicken production, brick manufacturing and animal feed production. Piggery equipment such as feeding crates and sow crates are produced by the employees. Every week thirty (30) to forty (40) pigs are taken to the Bronkhortspruit abattoir. The current goal is to establish a training centre for emerging farmers.