Maphosa is a truly extraordinary woman

NOORDKAAP – If there’s a woman worthy to be honoured during Women’s Month, it is none other than female extraordinaire, Ms Patricia Ntombi Maphosa (58) who is such a versatile woman that everything she does become a success.

She recently won the annual Female Farmer of the Year – smallholding category award in 2011 provincially – and dubs herself “a jack-of-all-trades”. She’s worked as an engineer, accountant, secretary and is now devoting her entire life to farming.

Speaking to her at her Simunye Farm not far from Barberton, she said, “In my business, I’m a hands-on person as I am a director, a manager, a labourer and all of these put together. I’ve worked in various spheres of life, and l have succeeded in all of them.
Her farming practices include land preparation, planting, applying fertiliser, weeding and harvesting, She proudly says, “All of this came from the sweat of my brow, as I personally worked hard to get where I am today.
“Through my hard work on the farm, I proudly feed the nation as I supply Pick n Pay in Barberton and Friendly Supermarket. I’m a job creator and my next challenge is sugar-cane farming.
“That will be the epitome of my working career as I shall then have reached my goals and dreams, so watch the space,” she concluded.
She has been married to her loving husband, Mr Louis Gert Joubert for the past 32 years, who shares her passion for farming – a perfect democratic South African couple in the true sense of the word.