10. Thobeka Mapukata - Cultivating Change

“They told us Black brands don’t sell. Now supermarkets beg for our tomatoes. That’s how you answer doubters — with produce too good to ignore.”

Thobeka Mapukata, a 70-year-old farmer and community leader from Eastern Cape, South Africa is the founder and chairperson of Sinemihlali Primary Cooperative. After spending years as a caterer in the Western Cape, Thobeka returned home when her business was no longer sustainable and redirected her focus to agriculture, drawing on her background and passion for rural development. Starting with a single agricultural tunnel, she turned her small operation into a leading tomato-producing cooperative, supplying local supermarkets.

Beyond farming, Thobeka mentors young people, women, and ex-offenders, helping them acquire practical skills and transform their lives. Her cooperative employs eight people directly, while her mentorship extends to five other cooperatives working on a secondary 212-hectare farm.

https://gracamacheltrust.org