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Eastern Cape Agriculture MEC Nonceba Kontsiwe handed over farming and textile machinery to youth- and women-led cooperatives in Zwelitsha Village, Matatiele.
The handover included two hand-held tractors, 30 industrial sewing machines, a pottery wheel, and a slab roller. These tools are part of the province’s pilot programme to support small-scale farming, rural textile manufacturing, and poverty alleviation.
Kontsiwe said the Department had invested R198,000 for the hand-held tractors and R504,224 for textile equipment distributed to 16 enterprises across Alfred Nzo District.
“Tractors are in demand, but they’re expensive, so we’re piloting hand-held tillers,” she said.
Who received the equipment?
Recipients of the new equipment included:
- Shiya’s and Son Enterprise – run by 28-year-old Luvo Mxhakaza, who farms vegetables on 4 hectares of land
- Mthimkhulu Enterprise – led by Ntombizodwa Lithole, a rural clothing producer in need of high-capacity sewing tools
- 14 additional co-operatives – covering crafts, sewing, and agriculture sectors in the Alfred Nzo region
Mxhakaza, who began farming in 2022, expressed his excitement:
“I used to plough with forks and spades. This machine will make my work much easier and motivate me to grow even more vegetables,” he said.
Empowering rural women and youth
Kontsiwe said the initiative supports the department’s broader goals of boosting food security and economic inclusion through programmes like Ilima Lokulima, which encourages community food gardens.
The textile equipment, including industrial and overlooker sewing machines, aims to improve the quality of locally made garments and scale up rural production.
“My dream is to see their clothes in major retail stores,” Kontsiwe said.
Lithole shared that she has struggled to meet demand but is now confident the machines will improve her business and help her hire additional workers.
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