Steenkamp Scoops the Provincial Female Entrepreneur Award
23 August 2010
The proclamation of Ms Madelene Steenkamp of Lydenburg in the Ehlanzeni District as the overall winner for the Provincial 2010 Female Entrepreneur Awards was made at a glittering event that took place in Graskop Blyde Canyon Aventura recently by MEC Meshack Malinga. Ms Steenkamp Farming project has scooped the Mpumalanga Province 2010 Female Entrepreneur of the Year prize, after defeating fourteen other aspiring finalists who were competing for this year’s popular title.
In congratulating the winners, MEC Meshack Malinga for the Department of Agriculture, Rural Development and Land Administration said to all the participants that, they have demonstrated their excellence and competence in agriculture, forestry and fisheries in the province and they are a good example to other women who are already in farming and those who intend to start their projects.
All of you winners, who’ll be representing the province at the National Female Entrepreneur Awards in the Eastern Cape, make us proud as a province and good luck, said the MEC.
The competition is an initiative of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries aimed at rewarding women’s efforts and contributions in promoting food security, fight against hunger, poverty alleviation and also to encourage and increase their participation in the entire sector.
Ms Steenkamp as an overall winner, her project was drawn from the five categories and was competing with other sub-category winners who stunned the judges on matters relating to entrepreneurial expressions such as financial management, prospect for growth, and job creation.
Her passion for agricultural activities gave birth to her livestock farming in 1994 and the experience she gained over the years has enabled her to manage and grow her business significantly since she has resigned from the South African Police Services profession. She has since been a member of Simbra Stud Breeders of South Africa.
She is very passionate about cattle farming. Her passion for farming dates back from her childhood. Although she grew up in a farming family, she was inspired her father in-law. When he became very ill and could not manage the farm, she saw an opportunity to advance his vision. Steenkamp noticed a potential in his farm and she made a decision to follow her passion of working on the farm not the office and took over from him. She has have never looked back since then.
Steenekamp is involved in Simbra Stud Breeding Enterprise farm and owns about 1000 cattle on a 3000 ha farm, situated in Klipplaatdrift on the North Eastern of Lydenburg. She has also employed eight people on her farm.
As a Stud Breeder, she is selling her livestock in Middleburg and other parts of the province. She took part in national exhibitions and agricultural shows where she displays her bulls for viewing.
It is not common for women to be involved in cattle farming, because women are still finding themselves in the careers traditionally allocated to women, such as office administrators, nurses and teachers, but many others are managing to break through these stereo types.
“All of the entrants to the Awards are the role models in agriculture”, said MEC Malinga “All of the women who participated in the Awards are making a vital contribution in uniting the agricultural sector and bridging the gap between subsistence and commercial farming."
Other women who won the prize of the category Top Commercial Entrepreneur included Ngoyi Iris Nursery of Gert Sibande District and Imheten from Nkangala District.
Together with other winners in their respective categories they will represent the province at the National Female Entrepreneur of the Year Awards, during which they will competing with winners from other provinces. The National ceremony will be held in Eastern Cape on the 28th of this month.
Ms. Steenkamp by winning the title of the overall winner, the department has a long term investment in assisting her project.
Other sub-category winners were announced as follows:
1. Best Female Worker
- Shongwe PD: Fisher
- Masekoama LM: Farmer
- Hlatshwayo G: Forester
2. Best Subsistence Producer
- Vulamehlo Womens Group: Farmer
- Intlelento: Forester
- Thandokuhle Beekeeping: Processor
3. Top Young Entrepreneur
- Snapy Lamb Feedlot: Farmer
- Hungube J: Processor
4. Top Entrepreneur: Small Holder
- (Dlongolandlala) Mkhatshwa MA: Horticulture/ crop
- Khumalo N: Livestock
- Kwandebele Roller Milling: Processor
5. Top Entrepreneur: Commercial
- Ngoyi Iris Nursery: Horticulture/ crop
- Steenkamp M: Livestock
- Imheten: Forestry
6. Overall Winner
- Steenkamp M: Livestock
Enquiries:
Zanele J Shabangu
Media Liaison & Monitoring
Tel: 013 766 6133
Fax: 013 766 8243
Cell: 082 963 9582
Email: shabanguzj@mpg.gov.za
Issued by: Mpumalanga Department of Agriculture, Rural
Development and Land Administration
