AGRI-BUSINESS FEMALE FARMER OF THE YEAR AWARD CEREMONY
SPEECH BY MEC NANDI MAYATHULA-KHOZA
VOORTREKKER MONUMENT, TSHWANE
23RD AUGUST 2012
Programme Director,
HOD, Mme Simangele Sekgobela,
Female Farmers Represented,
Members of the Media
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good Morning, Dumelang, Sanibonani, Gooi More,
I am honoured to address you all during the month of August, a
month in which as a nation, we commemorate the gallant
revolutionary struggle of the women of 1956 who braved the
winter’s chill by marching to Pretoria in protest of the inclusion of
women in pass laws that controlled the movement of Africans.
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As one goes through the oracles of history, the role of women in
society is clear and can never be underestimated or underplayed
as women are the bedrock upon which the family is built.
Women are not only nurturers, but in many instances, providers
of their families.
It is therefore befitting that while we celebrate those heroines of
our liberation struggle we also honour the phenomenal women
who daily, under very difficult and often trying circumstance, toil
and till the land to ensure they provide food for their families and
communities.
Programme Director, ladies and gentlemen, the link between
women and Agriculture is crucial, as Agriculture remains the
backbone of our economy and women the bedrock upon which
the families are built. Agriculture remains an important sector
in job creation within our country. It is also through Agriculture
that we are able to ensure food security for our families and
communities, and guarantee that no child goes to bed hungry. It
is also through Agriculture that we are able to tackle the triple
challenges of unemployment, poverty and the growing inequality
among our people and among men and women.
With this understanding, we are therefore mindful of the pivotal
role the Agri-Business Women of the Year Awards play as they
are aimed at celebrating all the phenomenal women involved in
this critical sector.
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The awards are aimed at recognizing the contribution by women
in addressing the triple challenges of unemployment, poverty and
inequality through agriculture.
Program Director, 2012 is also a significant year as we mark the
centenary of the African National Congress (ANC), the oldest
liberation movement on the African Continent. Over the century,
the ANC has not only been in the forefront of the liberation
struggle of African people, but it has been the torchbearer in the
fight for the emancipation of women, and African women in
particular. Equally important to note, is that 2012 also marks the
99th year anniversary of the infamous Native Land Act of 1913.
An oppressive law which systematically instutionalised the
restriction of African people to both own and occupy land in their
country.
The magnitude of this repressive law and its impact on African
women still reverberates through our country and communities,
99 years later, as African women remain marginalised and
hardest hit by poverty in rural areas where under very harsh
conditions, they eke out an existence in their pursuit to feed their
families and communities.
Programme Director, I am therefore pleased that as the Gauteng
Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, we remain
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resolute in our commitment towards the total emancipation of
women and these awards are testament to that resolve.
The
Gauteng
Provincial
Government
has
implemented
a
multifaceted plan of action targeting the poor and vulnerable.
One component of this plan is the involvement of women, youth
and the disabled in the farming sector. In deepening their
participation and recognising their contribution, the AgriBusiness Woman of the Year Awards was initiated.
The Agri-Business Woman of the Year Awards is an annual event
where women are rewarded for the contribution they have made
in the agricultural sector. It was initiated in 1999 by the National
Department of Agriculture for all the nine Provinces with the aim
to
empower
women
in
agriculture
by
recognizing
their
contribution and increasing their visibility.
The project has and is still contributing increasingly towards the
emancipation of women in the agricultural fraternity and it
serves as a draw card for encouraging other women to be
involved and participate in the sector.
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Ladies and Gentlemen, this award ceremony as also happens
when Women’s month is being celebrated under the theme “56
years of women united against poverty, inequality and
unemployment.” An apt theme, as we continue to grapple with
the triple challenges of unemployment, poverty and the growing
inequality. So as women within Agriculture we must collectively
determine how best to address these challenges.
And I am delighted that the theme for this year’s Agri-Business
Women of the Year is “Business Unusual: All hands on deck to
bring changes”. A befitting theme as we realise that in order to
address these challenges facing our country, it requires a
different approach to ensuring that we create employment, bridge
the growing inequality while curbing the poverty facing our
people, especially African women.
Program Director, the Agri-Business Female Farmer Awards
therefore is an important mechanism as it recognises the
valuable contribution female farmers make to agriculture in
South Africa. These include both established and developing
farmers. Indeed these awards are very appropriate to highlight
the important role women in agriculture play in building and
feeding our nation.
Agriculture, as a major contributor to the economy, has
unleashed an avalanche of female influence and posed a
challenge to male dominance in agriculture. Another significance
of the Agri-Business Female Farmer Awards is that they raise an
awareness of the importance of the sustainable use of the natural
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resources, a critical component of agriculture as we must ensure
that our natural resources are protected for us and future
generations.
Program Director, allow me if you would to give a brief
background of these awards and the impact they have played on
women’s lives. I am delighted to announce that since their
inception in 1999 to date, a total of approximately 1 900 women
farmers have participated in these awards and since the
introduction of the forth category for the production of food for
household use in 2003, the number increased significantly.
The following are the ladies to whom the honour went to in
different years since the inception of the awards:
 In 1999 under the theme: “Women in Agriculture” Ms
Maureen Chisale from Zuurbekom won for national market
category.
 In 2000 under the theme: “A Millennium Free from Hunger
– Women’s Role in Promoting Food Security”, Ms Rindie
Skipper won.
 While in 2001 under the theme: “Fight Hunger to Reduce
Poverty” the honour went to Ms Sabina Khoza from
Zuurbekom.
 In 2002 under the theme: “Food Security for Sustainable
Development” Ms M Van Reener from Benoni was honoured.
 And in 2003 under the theme: “International Alliance
against Hunger” Ms Gugu Zwane from Dedeur received the
award.
 In 2004 under the theme: “Biodiversity for Food Security”
the winner was Ms Gwen Ntsheare from Devon.
 In 2005 under the theme: “Agriculture and inter cultural
Dialogue” the honour went to Ms Erika Oberholzer from
Olifantsfontein
 In 2006 under the theme: “Age of Hope: Investing in
agriculture for food security” the winner hailed from
Diepsloot, and was Ms Sue Jackson.
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 In 2007 under the theme: “Renewing our Pledge – A
national partnership to build a better life for all…food for
all” the honour went to Ms Yvonne Lesego Molefe of Pyramid
in Tshwane
 In 2008 under the theme: “Business Unusual, All hands on
deck to bring changes” the winner was Ms Thupane of
Magliesberg
 In 2009 under the theme: “Working together we can do
more”, Ms Nonie Mokose of Randfontein who also won at the
national level received the prize.
 In 2010 under the theme: Business Unusual: “Working
together we can do more” the honour went to Ms Karin
Pretorius of Pretoria North
 And last year 2011 under the theme: “Working together we
can do more”, the winner was Ms Naomi Bogatsu of Tarlton,
Magaliesberg
In closing I want to remind us that in each and every woman
resides unsurpassed strength. Whatever the challenges, we find
solutions and emerge stronger.
Women always show their mettle and continue to deliver on their
formal and informal job responsibilities whilst excelling in their
gender roles of being mothers, wives and partners.
As women we seem to find opportunities where others see risks.
The recent appointment of Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma as
Chairperson of the African Union Commission is one such
opportunity presented to us as African women.
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We must therefore ponder what this appointment means to us as
women in Agriculture. We must consider if this appointment will
result in the opening up of markets on the Continent. What
benefits will this appointment of Dr Zuma translate into
opportunities within the infrastructure sector in relation to
agriculture when transporting our produce throughout the
continent? Opportunities are there, ours is to seize them knowing
that as women we have the full backing and support of your
Government.
In closing program Director, let me say to all the women in
Agriculture, thank you for your meaningful contribution towards
job creation, inclusive economic growth and food security. To the
winners, may these awards spur you on to higher heights.
I thank you.
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