The AgriSETA Stakeholder Excellence Awards 2025, held on 10 December at the Radisson Blu in Umhlanga, KwaZulu-Natal, celebrated organisations, institutions and individuals that are making a tangible difference in the development of much-needed skills for South Africa’s agricultural sector.
By Mkhululi Chimoio
The AgriSETA Stakeholder Excellence Awards 2025, held on 10 December at the Radisson Blu in Umhlanga, KwaZulu-Natal, celebrated organisations, institutions and individuals that are making a tangible difference in the development of much-needed skills for South Africa’s agricultural sector.
The awards celebrated excellence in youth empowerment, women empowerment, innovation, inclusion of people living with disability, agri-entrepreneurship as well as solid partnerships between AgriSETA and its stakeholders.
The awards have clear aims and objectives, including to raise awareness about good financial management and accountability; to encourage high standards in skills development; to promote project sustainability; and to build awareness of AgriSETA programmes. They are also aimed at strengthening stakeholder networking and promoting a strong culture of excellence in the sector.
AgriSETA’s head of marketing and communications, Mandy Rutgers, said the awards are closely linked to the organisation’s long-term vision.
“This is aligned to our Vision Statement, in which we are committed to contributing towards building an enabling, skilled, transformed and prosperous agricultural sector,” Rutgers said. “AgriSETA committed to an inclusive and equitable outcome where opportunities reach every community.”
She explained that the award-winning projects show how skills development can support youth, women and emerging farmers while responding to actual needs in the sector. According to Rutgers, all Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) use Sector Skills Plans to identify gaps and align funding programmes to address them, including AgriSETA.
“As agriculture continues to evolve, so too does our role in defining the path forward through funding and strategic partnerships that assure continuous learning, creative solutions and innovation so that the workforce remains competitive and future-ready,” she said.
Empowerment of Youth and Learning Institutions
Clarkebury Agricultural School in the Eastern Cape won the award for Youth Empowerment Skills Development and was also a runner-up in the Leading Learning Institution category.
According to Mhlobo Dalasile, the managing director of Clarkebury Agricultural School, the school focuses on balancing theory with strong practical training.
“We use Annual Teaching Plans for theory and Practical Assessment Tasks for hands-on learning on our diverse experimental farm,” said Dalasile.
“Our learners are trained in climate-smart agriculture, conservation farming, dairy science technologies and hydroponics.”
He also said that the school places emphasis on entrepreneurship, rural development and advanced technologies, working closely in collaboration with partners such as the Eastern Cape Department of Agriculture, AgriSETA, the Agricultural Research Council (ARC), universities and research institutions.
“Our objectives are job creation, food security and rural development,” he explained.
“We want learners to either create their own employment or confidently enter the agricultural workforce.”
The winner in the Leading Learning Institution category was the University of Limpopo, yet again indicating that higher learning institutions play a key role in claiming skills development projects funded by AgriSETA.
Empowerment of Women in Skills Development
DC Academy from Limpopo won the Women Empowerment in Skills Development award.
Dali Matodzi, the CEO of DC Academy, highlighted the major challenges women face in agriculture.
“The most critical barriers are unequal access to land, finance, training and markets, as well as cultural norms and underrepresentation in leadership,” said Matodzi.
She said that DC Academy works through a blended approach, combining accredited learnerships with gender-based violence awareness, disability training and structured mentorship.
“This ensures women gain technical skills, confidence, networks and leadership capacity,” she said.
DC Academy measures long-term impact by measuring employment, promotion, business growth, income stability and community impact.
“We also use qualitative evidence and involve women in defining what empowerment means to them,” added Matodzi.
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Inclusion of People with Disabilities
In the category for Best Project Targeting People Living with Disabilities, the winner was Scientific Roots from KwaZulu-Natal.
Zama Madikizela, the operations director at Scientific Roots, said their journey started with support from Bayer South Africa, upon a recommendation by AgriSETA.
“We upgraded our campus to be universally accessible, arranged safe transport, provided daily healthy meals and appointed a full-time professional nurse,” Madikizela said. “We also built strong relationships with local disability forums.
“Our programme now supports more than 200 learners yearly, with support from over 40 corporate sponsors. We focus on what people can do, not what they can’t.”
“We have built ramps into poultry houses, raised planting beds and redesigned laboratories to be accessible.”
Scientific Roots seeks to provide agripreneurs and contract growers with better income opportunities from value-added agricultural produce that enhance rural livelihoods and reduce unemployment.
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Skilling for Innovation
Agri Skills Transfer from Gauteng won the award for Innovative Skills Development Project of the Year.
According to Shaun Welmans, the chief operating officer of Agri Skills Transfer, their programmes are designed to meet the changing needs of modern agriculture.
“Our training covers crop production, animal husbandry, agribusiness and sustainable farming,” Welmans said.
“What sets us apart is experiential learning in real agricultural environments.”
Welmans explained that learners get practical experience on the organisation’s fully functional farm, under the guidance of experienced mentors. Agri Skills Transfer also incorporates the latest digital technologies, including drones, sensors, satellite imagery and tools for the internet of things.
“These technologies help learners to collect and use real-time data to enhance productivity and sustainability,” he Welmans.
Welmans added that their programmes are strengthened through partnerships with organisations like Agri Technovation, Laeveld Agrochem, the Milk Producers’ Organisation and Kleinskuur Aquaponics, making them scalable across provinces.
Agripreneurship Excellence
The award in the category for Agripreneurship went to Wa Rona Food Enterprise from the Free State.
According to Bokang Lehloenya, CEO of Wa Rona Food Enterprise, this company was inspired by the gap between South Africa’s agricultural heritage and the modern food market.
“Sorghum is climate-resilient and very nutritious, yet South Africa relies [a lot] on its imports,” Lehloenya said.
“Traditional products like motoho have been pushed out of formal retail.”
Wa Rona focuses on sorghum-based beverages that are affordable, healthy and culturally relevant. Lehloenya said their success comes from using drought-tolerant crops, flexible sourcing, lean production and strong retail partnerships.
“My advice to young agripreneurs is to start with what your community needs,” she said.
“Learn the business side of agriculture, build partnerships, use technology where possible, and be patient and resilient.”
Other winners included South African Breweries, which won the award for Leading Employer in Skills Development across the small, medium and large employer categories, and Triple E Training won the award for Leading Private Service Provider.
These companies were recognised for successfully implementing AgriSETA-funded programmes and reflecting best practices in skills development. The AgriSETA Stakeholder Excellence Awards 2025 demonstrated the power of collaboration, innovation and inclusion in building a skilled and transformed agricultural sector. From youth and women empowerment to disability inclusion and agripreneurship, the winners showed that meaningful skills development can change lives, strengthen communities and secure the future of agriculture in South Africa.
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