Unsung heroes and innovators uplifted at SA Agricultural Awards

The 2025 South African Agricultural Awards celebrated excellence in farming, agripreneurship, education, and innovation at the Durban Christian Centre Jesus Dome in KwaZulu-Natal.

The event showed that success in farming is not only about working with your hands; it is about creativity, determination, and using all your skills and abilities to make the land thrive.

Sibusiso Mogale from Nelspruit, Mpumalanga, has been farming vegetables and poultry since 2014. Born without hands, he faced big challenges like limited access, lack of funding, and theft. Despite these obstacles, he turned his disability into a strength and won the award for Best Agriculture Influencer of the Year.

Recognising outstanding farmers

“It [the award] just proves that hard work does not need to be dressed well. It just shows that if it is meant for you, it is meant for you; whatever way you are dressed, you will still get it,” Mogale said.

Other notable 2025 award winners included:

Wendy Moshakga, honoured as a Rural Transformative Farmer, is a first-generation crop farmer from Blood River, Limpopo, mainly growing cabbage since 2021. She has faced severe challenges from climate change, losing over 200 000 cabbage this year due to hail. With hopes of installing greenhouses if funding allows, Moshakga remains determined, supported by the dedication of her 40 permanent and part-time workers who provide for their families.

In the Doctors in Agriculture category, Dr Thabile Graba, a paediatrician with a passion for preventive medicine, was recognised for promoting healthy eating and organic food to prevent lifestyle diseases. She strongly believes that good nutrition is key to health and disease prevention in families.

Nonkululeko Ximba was recognised for excellence in agri-based fermented products. Known as “umama we mbuzi,” she is a goat dairy farmer from Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal.

“I started livestock farming in 2022 with just 10 goats, but early on, I faced setbacks as the goats fell ill due to my limited knowledge, losing five to disease and another five to theft,” Ximba said.

Another standout was Nothando Mthiyani, celebrated as an unsung hero. Growing up in a village, she spent years motivating younger generations and communities to embrace crop and livestock farming. Though she began informally around 2010 and seriously from 2020, she has worked tirelessly without pay to secure funding and support for young farmers.

Going the extra mile

The event also featured keynote addresses by eThekwini Municipality mayor Cyril Xaba, deputy minister of higher education and training Nomusa Dube Ncube, AgriSETA acting CEO Fanny Phetla, and chief risk officer at AgriSETA Kubenokuthula Ndlovu.

They all commended the remarkable work done by farmers across the country and highlighted the vital economic contributions the agricultural sector makes to South Africa. Their speeches celebrated the resilience and innovation of farmers, emphasising the sector’s role in sustaining livelihoods, driving job creation, and strengthening the national economy.

Reflecting on the spirit of continuous growth, Gugu Mkhize CEO of Inseta encouraged farmers to continue going the extra mile in what they do as they are not only doing it for themselves but the whole country.

“Winning today is not just about prestige; it’s about going back and looking for ways to improve. Your courage and efforts inspire us all,” Mdluli said.