The Soil Remembers Her Hands

 “We started with five households. Now, we’re working on five hectares, employing 18 people and feeding over 40 families.”Ayanda Nayo is a South African community leader, mother, and founder of Potsdam Girls (PTY) LTD, an agricultural cooperative based in Potsdam Village, near the coastal city of East London in the Eastern Cape province. Formerly a Supply Chain Manager in the Department of Agriculture, Ayanda made the bold decision to leave government employment to respond to the urgent needs of her rural community—where poverty, unemployment, and youth crime had become widespread. In 2020, amid growing social and economic hardship, Ayanda launched a grassroots initiative that began with simple backyard gardens. Her vision was to combat hunger and restore dignity by helping families grow their own food. What started small, quickly expanded into a five-hectare farming project that now provides food security and income opportunities to more than 40 families.https://gracamacheltrust.org

"Imagine what it would mean for girls to learn that farming isn’t just for old men, but it’s powerful, dignified, and feeds nations." Bukeka Buqwana is a South African social entrepreneur and agricultural innovator leading rural transformation in the Eastern Cape. She co-founded Zakhe Youth Development, a farming cooperative that creates sustainable livelihoods for women and youth in under-resourced communities. Originally trained as an electrician, Bukeka turned to agriculture after years of unemployment. In 2017, she began cultivating a small, abandoned plot—laying the groundwork for what would grow into a five-hectare operation supplying supermarkets, schools, and early childhood development centres. Today, her cooperative employs over 20 people, the majority of whom are women.https://gracamacheltrust.org

“It’s about restoring our pride, claiming space, and ensuring that the next generation inherits not just land but a future.”Verdra Brown is a farmer, agro-processor, and community leader based in Nyarai, a rural village in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. After a career in higher education, Verdra returned home during the COVID-19 pandemic and revived her family’s smallholding. She founded All Things Last Lap, an agro-processing and beekeeping business inspired by two surviving beehives left by her late mother. Through this venture, she trains and mentors local women in sustainable agriculture and beekeeping, supporting over 20 women through cooperatives. Verdra’s work is deeply rooted in legacy-building, sustainability, and community development, blending traditional knowledge with modern agro-processing techniques.Verdra also serves as the operations manager of her daughter’s NGO, which is based on the family farm. The NGO tutors nearly 200 children in mathematics and English. Together, they run an after-school programme, creating a safe and nurturing space for children in their community. https://gracamacheltrust.org

 “I sold my house to fund my dream. When you start from nothing, you fight with everything you have.” Sheila Hlanjwa is the pioneering founder of Lathitha Wines, a Black woman-owned wine brand rooted in South Africa. Sheila’s entrepreneurial journey began in 2007 after transitioning from a career in waste management. With no prior experience in winemaking, she studied viticulture at Stellenbosch University and has since built a thriving brand around South Africa’s iconic Pinotage grape.In 2021, Sheila purchased a 250-hectare farm near East London (Eastern Cape), where she is developing an ecosystem that includes wine production, agro-tourism, livestock, and hemp farming. A passionate mentor, she employs and trains young Black women and supports her two sons in taking over the family business.  Facebook: Lathitha Wineshttps://gracamacheltrust.org

“They told us Black brands don’t sell. Now supermarkets beg for our tomatoes. That’s how you answer doubters — with produce too good to ignore.”Thobeka Mapukata, a 70-year-old farmer and community leader from Eastern Cape, South Africa is the founder and chairperson of Sinemihlali Primary Cooperative. After spending years as a caterer in the Western Cape, Thobeka returned home when her business was no longer sustainable and redirected her focus to agriculture, drawing on her background and passion for rural development. Starting with a single agricultural tunnel, she turned her small operation into a leading tomato-producing cooperative, supplying local supermarkets.Beyond farming, Thobeka mentors young people, women, and ex-offenders, helping them acquire practical skills and transform their lives. Her cooperative employs eight people directly, while her mentorship extends to five other cooperatives working on a secondary 212-hectare farm.https://gracamacheltrust.org

 “Every bottle of Libby’s Pride carries not only wine but the enduring imprint of a love story marked by courage, loss, and resilience.”Elizabeth “Libby” Peterson is one of South Africa’s longest-standing Black women entrepreneurs in the wine industry. Born and raised in Cape Town, Libby began her professional life as a bookkeeper and credit controller. In 2009, she launched her brand, Libby’s Pride Wines, symbolised by the lion, her star sign’s emblem, and a symbol of African dignity. Through grit, faith, and self-funding, she secured shelf space in major retailers in South Africa and gained access to  export markets to Denmark, the UK, and China. Libby is a fierce advocate for transformation, women’s rights, and fair participation of Black entrepreneurs in the wine sector, continuing to fight for inclusion and equity.Website: https://libbyspridewines.comhttps://gracamacheltrust.org

 “Every sale is more than a transaction. It’s food on a plate, dignity restored, and a woman taking her rightful place in the economy.”Sibongile Cele is an accountant turned social entrepreneur who founded Abundant Wealth Limited and pioneered rooftop farming in Johannesburg, South Africa. Born in Orlando East, Soweto, Sibongile was shaped by a deep connection to food security as her father who was a schoolteacher, established food gardens at local schools. After qualifying as an accountant and running her own financial services business, Sibongile transitioned into agriculture in 2013, inspired by the growing food insecurity she witnessed in urban areas. She founded Abundant Wealth Limited to promote innovative farming methods like hydroponics and rooftop gardening, addressing food shortages and land access challenges for women.Facebook: Mcebo Fresh Veggie Rooftop Farmhttps://gracamacheltrust.org

“They didn’t make space for us at their table. So, we built our own—and now everyone’s asking for a seat.”Beverly Farmer-Kotze is a trailblazer in South Africa’s wine industry and the CEO of Women in Wine—the first wine production company in the country to be entirely owned, led, and managed by women. Born and raised in Paarl, a town in the heart of South Africa’s wine-producing region, Beverly began her career in public relations and communications at a major wine corporation. Witnessing persistent inequalities in the wine sector—particularly affecting Black women and farmworkers—she co-founded Women in Wine in August 2003 with 19 other women. Through bold partnerships and innovative business strategies, Beverly has led the brand to success both locally and internationally, all while advocating for transformation in an industry historically marked by racial and gender exclusionWebsite: https://womeninwine.co.za/https://gracamacheltrust.org

 “Every seed I plant is a protest. A protest against hunger, against inequality, against a system that forgot its people.”Tandiswa Hopa, affectionately known as Tandi, is an organic farmer, community activist, and founder of Green Riverbend Programs, based in the rural Eastern Cape, South Africa. With 17 years of experience as a community development specialist, Tandi transitioned into full-time farming in 2016, driven by her passion for food sovereignty and sustainable agriculture. Starting with no formal funding but strong family support, she and her husband purchased 44-hectares of virgin land along a riverbend, where she established a thriving vegetable, poultry, and agro-processing enterprise.Tandi mentors women and youth, training them in organic farming techniques and market access strategies while leading a food hub that enables farmers to set fair prices. She is also a passionate advocate for just food systems, climate adaptation, and women’s leadership in agriculture.Website: https://www.riverbendvk.co.za/https://gracamacheltrust.org

 “This is bigger than me. This is about women being seen and respected as builders of wealth and custodians of culture.”Kwanele Nyawo is the co-founder and co-owner of Kunu Fine Wine, a boutique wine brand based in Paarl, Western Cape. At 39 years old, she has already made a meaningful mark in South Africa’s wine landscape. In 2021, she co-founded both Khulu Fine Wine and Mzansi Craft Wine, with the full startup investment funded by her business partner, who also serves as co-founder. Originally from Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal, Kwanele’s journey into the wine industry reflects her passion for innovation, representation, and access. She is a committed advocate for inclusion of women in the farming sector, particularly within the wine industry, where she actively champions opportunities, visibility, and recognition for women across the value chain.Website: https://khululuxury.com/https://gracamacheltrust.org

"I realised wine wasn't just a drink — it represented heritage, culture, and business. And it was time we claimed our place at the table."Nondumiso Pikashe, 57, is the founder and CEO of Ses’fikile Wines, a Black woman-owned wine brand based in Cape Town, South Africa. At the dawn of democracy in South Africa she was exposed to the wine industry through a government-supported initiative. She quickly became passionate about wine as both a cultural heritage and an economic opportunity. In 2005, she founded Ses’fikile Wines, meaning “We Have Arrived,” a name symbolising the rightful claim of Black women in the industry. Despite barriers like limited access to markets and capital, she has remained committed to creating a successful brand, educating young people about responsible alcohol consumption and the many career opportunities within the wine sector. Website: https://sesfikilewines.com/https://gracamacheltrust.org

“Each woman I train cultivates more than food, she cultivates independence.”Refiloe Molefe, a farmer, agro-processor, and community activist, founded Precious Harvest, a social farming initiative based in Johannesburg, South Africa. A mother of seven and caregiver to many more vulnerable children, Refiloe began her journey by transforming a neglected bowling green in the inner city into a thriving vegetable garden to feed hungry children. Her commitment grew into a multi-site urban farming project that supplies organic produce, juices, and chilli sauces to local markets and schools. Refiloe trains young people, women, and unemployed community members, in sustainable farming, often using her hands as her only tools. https://gracamacheltrust.org

“I refused to let my grandchildren inherit this curse. When science gave no answers, I turned to the soil.”Lungisa Nonkwelo is a farmer, herbal remedy producer, and community leader from Libode in Nyandeni Municipality, Eastern Cape, South Africa. After working for over 20 years in the financial sector, she transitioned into farming and agro-processing following a personal battle with breast cancer in 2001. Inspired by her family’s tragic history with cancer and determined to find a natural solution, Lungisa developed Defender, an Indigenous Herbal Supplement used for chronic illnesses, including cancer, arthritis, and general immune support.https://gracamacheltrust.org

“I slept on the floor with only God watching. But the soil knew my name. I wasn’t done.”Vivian Kleynhans is a trailblazing South African entrepreneur, the founder of Seven Sisters Wines and African Roots Wines—among the very few Black woman-owned wine estates in Stellenbosch, South Africa’s premier wine region.Born in the small fishing village of Paternoster in current Western Cape, South Africa during apartheid, Vivian and her family were forcibly removed from their home under the Group Areas Act, a law that displaced non-white families from areas reserved for white citizens. Her life has been marked by both personal and professional challenges—including the loss of her home, the collapse of her business, and a painful divorce—but she has emerged as an internationally respected voice in the wine industry.Visit her website: https://www.sevensisters.co.za/https://gracamacheltrust.org