Dynamic Maphumulo farmer Welile Gumede wins Shoprite Hustle competition

Young and dynamic iLembe farmer Welile Gumede was one of 20 winners in the Shoprite Hustle competition.

Each year, the Shoprite Group steps up to the challenge of aiding budding entrepreneurs to grow their business.

The competition aims to boost small business development and celebrate established and promising small business owners, with winners receiving R50 000 cash, a laptop and digital social media support.

Gumede came to public notice when she scored third place in the 2018 iLembe Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Tourism’s entrepreneur competition.

She went on to become a winner in the Santam Women of the Future Awards, where she was recognised for not letting unemployment get the better of her.

On hearing that she had won this latest competition, Gumede said: “Winning means a lot to me. It will inspire the youth in my community of Maphumulo and show them that success is possible no matter what your background.”

In 2017 Gumede established Azowel Projects with the goal of restoring a number of neglected greenhouse tunnels in the iLembe region.

An innovative go-getter, she restored the greenhouses and sold the vegetables to Enterprise iLembe’s school nutrition programme.

She is today regarded as one of the most successful entrepreneurs in the iLembe region, having employed more than a dozen people when she first opened Azowel Projects.

She now employs 22 people.

Through her company, Gumede supplies a number of vegetables including tomatoes and peppers, which also go out to stores around KwaDukuza.

“I work very hard every day because not only have I been unemployed, but enabling 22 other employees to provide for their families is a big responsibility and honour,” she said.

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