In a bold and inspiring display of grassroots mobilisation, the African Farmers’ Association of South Africa (Afasa), through its Young Women in Agriculture programme, hosted a landmark event on Thursday, 8 May, at the Ferdi Meyer Hall in Welkom.
The primary aim of the gathering was to officially launch the organisation’s three-year incubation programme, designed to mentor, equip, and support previously disadvantaged women and girls as they enter the agricultural sector.
The event drew a large and spirited audience, including executive mayor councillor Veronica Ntakumbana of the Lejweleputswa District Municipality, representatives of the Matjhabeng mayor’s office, and the national chairperson of Afasa. Their presence underscored the growing recognition that youths and women must be at the center of rural development and agricultural transformation.
Unlike many high-profile launches, this event was powered entirely by its members. With no corporate sponsorship, women from the community provided food through their own donations, including fresh vegetables and meat from slaughtered sheep.
This act of self-reliance powerfully mirrored the programme’s core values: sustainability, cooperation, and leadership from within.
Afasa, established in 2011, champions the inclusion of black farmers in the mainstream commercial agriculture economy. It offers access to training, markets, financing, and policy advocacy. Its new national chairperson, Molefe Mahape, is a respected farmer and former educator known for vision in implementing national agri-development plans.
Speaking to the Vista newspaper, the chairlady of the Young Women in Agriculture programme, Thandi Mohale, emphasized that transformation would not come from handouts, but from initiative.
“If the nation is to be strong, women must step forward and make things happen,” she said, calling for a return to practical skills, enterprise, and communal support.
The launch of the incubation programme marks the beginning of a structured pathway for women to thrive in agriculture as innovators, leaders, and landowners.
– Wesley Manako, community reporter
