Women who farm, lead, and grow the heart of Mzansi
Across South Africa’s agricultural landscape, women are defying odds, breaking barriers, and cultivating not just crops and livestock, but also hope, opportunity, and profound change.
From the fields to the boardrooms, they are shaping the future of agriculture.
For Women’s Month, we shine a spotlight on these extraordinary individuals whose stories are powerful reminders of resilience, innovation, and unwavering commitment to their communities.
1. From trauma to triumph
A hijacking and a near-death experience could have broken her, but for Thanda Mbeje, it was the start of an incredible journey. This inspirational KwaZulu-Natal woman turned trauma into triumph, finding healing and a new purpose on her eight-hectare farm.
After surviving a horrific hijacking in 2019, this school principal from Ulundi became the proud owner of KwaMandlovu Organic Farming Pty Ltd. She grows a variety of organic crops, including potatoes, sweet potatoes, and spinach, with a special focus on red sprinkle beans.
What makes her story truly special is not just her incredible bravery, but her commitment to community. With a team of twelve temporary workers, Mbeje cultivates hope and creates jobs in her community.
2. The unstoppable Aunty Bettie
For decades, Bettie Fortuin has been a force of nature in the Western Cape’s agricultural communities. After a lifetime spent on farms, she took a stand, going from farmworker to fierce activist and is considered a beacon of hope for women across the region.
Aunty Bettie’s mission is simple yet powerful: to ensure every woman farmworker knows their rights and has the courage to fight for them. What makes her so special is her fearless dedication. She was a key organiser of the historic 2012 farmworker uprisings, which saw thousands protest for better wages and working conditions.
Today, her fight continues through the “One Woman One Hectare” campaign, a movement to secure land for women to grow their own vegetables and provide for their families.
3. The olive queen
Meet Wendy Petersen, a visionary leader who is now the CEO of SA Olive. In her current role, she’s not just managing an organisation, she’s on a mission to transform the olive industry completely.
With a new five-year strategy, Petersen is tackling tough challenges with a primary focus on bringing emerging farmers into the fold and providing them with essential training.
However, her powerful leadership in the olive sector is built on an incredible foundation in the wine industry. As the former executive manager of the SA Wine Industry Transformation Unit (Sawitu), she was a key player in taking a significant number of black-owned wine brands to major international exhibitions like Vinexpo America. Her tireless efforts gave these brands unprecedented access to global markets and helped them secure a place on the world stage.
4. From DJ decks to chicken coops
Khanyisile Maseko, a woman known in the entertainment world as “Khanyi da Stud”, faced a massive setback when the Covid-19 pandemic shut down her career as a DJ and content producer. But instead of giving up, she reinvented herself as a poultry farmer.
What makes her story so special is her fearless leap into the unknown. Starting with just 50 chicks in her garage, she has grown her business into an operation with a production scale of 600 chicks per cycle. She now supplies fresh chickens to her community in Elukwatini, Mpumalanga, and has big dreams of expanding her brand to include a line of chicken-based products.
5. Smaragda’s fat in a jar
Smaragda Krynauw, the brilliant mind behind the Smeervet brand, is turning what others might discard into a sought-after treasure. What makes her so special is her innovative approach to taking the traditional practice of using tallow and transforming it into a modern, artisanal business.
Working from her home in Wellington in the Western Cape, Krynauw crafts a range of nourishing products, including Pure Tallow and a Whipped Tallow Balm, all made from 100% grass-fed, free-range beef suet. Her operation, which started with a simple idea, is now so successful that she’s moving into a dedicated facility.
She dreams of her handmade goods creating local jobs and eventually reaching shelves internationally.
6. Mam’ Pienkie rules a cattle kingdom
Selina Hlabedi, affectionately known as “Mam Pienkie”, is a true force of nature in South African agriculture. Her ability to rebuild from the ground up after facing unthinkable setbacks, including the loss of her entire cattle herd and major stock theft incidents, is extraordinary.
As the “Queen of Bonsmara” cattle, Hlabedi has not only rebuilt her livestock but has also expanded her farm into a thriving, mixed-farming operation. On her 489-hectare farm, Ba Kwa-Hlabedi, she raises Bonsmara cattle and sheep. In addition, she cultivates maize, soya, and vegetables, using her land to its fullest potential.
In 2022, her incredible hard work and determination were recognised when she was named the national emerging beef farmer of the year. Selina Hlabedi’s story is a testament to the fact that no matter how many times you are knocked down, you can rise again, stronger and more determined than ever.
7. Engineer becomes mopani entrepreneur
Vesela-Ntimbani is a qualified chemical engineer who saw an opportunity where others saw a traditional snack. She’s the innovative mind behind the Matomani brand, which turns mopani worms into modern, delicious, and healthy food products.
From mopani worm-infused chocolates and biscuits to protein bars and flour. Matomani is a proudly South African company that provides income for locals from whom it sources its mopani worms.
While her dream is to see her products on major retail shelves, she’s already making waves, with her items available in several stores and online. With her farm in Limpopo, she is charting a course to make mopani worms a daily staple.
8. Singing farmworker excels overseas
For years, Chanthel Boonzaaier spent her days as a dedicated farmworker, while having the voice of an angel that was destined for a much larger stage.
What makes Boonzaaier so special is her ability to seize an opportunity and let her talent shine. Her incredible voice was discovered through the Agri’s Got Talent competition, a platform that gives agricultural workers the chance to showcase their musical gifts. Her powerful performances captivated audiences and judges alike.
Her story took an even more extraordinary turn when she made the courageous decision to leave her life in agriculture behind to pursue her dreams. She is now living overseas, fully dedicated to her singing career.
9. The CEO who’s a force to be reckoned with
Fhumulani Ratshitanga, the CEO of Fruit South Africa, is a no-nonsense agri-leader who proves that a strong foundation can lead to a spectacular future. Raised by teacher parents in a small town, she credits her success to the unwavering discipline, education, and hard work instilled in her from a young age.
What makes Fhumulani so special is her powerful vision for a more inclusive and prosperous fruit industry. As the leader of the umbrella body for South Africa’s leading fruit commodity groups, her work extends across the entire sector.
She is not just focused on growth and export earnings; she is passionately committed to ensuring that previously disadvantaged individuals can meaningfully participate in the fruit value chain.
10. Sheena’s nursery empire
Meet Sheena Paulus, the visionary entrepreneur behind Tri Toad Nursery. Her remarkable journey from a career in logistics to building a thriving agricultural business from scratch is an example of taking chances and living your passion.
As the owner of Tri Toad Nursery, Paulus specialises in vegetable, herb, and flower seedlings. Using a 3 500-square-meter greenhouse and a hectare of shade netting, she can supply major retail garden centres, showcasing the significant scale of her operation and her commitment to quality.
With an estimated annual revenue exceeding R3 million, Paulus shows how a leap of faith can lead to incredible success and a flourishing legacy.
