She may be small, but The Mushroom Queen has demonstrated that she packs a powerful business punch.

Sithembile Ndlovu, aka The Mushroom Queen, reigned supreme as the winner of the annual iLembe Chamber of Commerce’s The Entrepreneur competition at CMH Ballito last Friday.

Hailing from Mdlebeni in KwaDukuza, the 39-year-old started her business in 2022 and has not looked back.

As the founder of Uluthando Agricultural Project, which trades as The Mushroom Queen, Ndlovu specialises in cultivating fresh oyster mushrooms.

Her business supplies local retailers, including Spar KwaDukuza and Food Lover’s Market, and offers mushroom spawn, mycelium, and training for aspiring farmers, contributing to job creation.

Reflecting on her achievement, Ndlovu said winning the competition was life-changing and proved that the work she has put into growing her business was all worth it.

“I have a group of women whom I teach about the importance of independence, and my win will bring hope to them, showing that anything is possible and achievable,” she said.

“If you work hard enough, there is always a way to grow. I’m going to use the prize money to buy my own equipment and that will make things easier for me.”

Ndlovu hopes the opportunities that the entrepreneur competition has exposed her too will enable her to make noticeable strides in the agricultural sector.

“I hope my dream of opening a mushroom lab will become a reality soon”

Claire Butler from Humidity Hulk secured the first runner-up spot, while Donavan Gumede of Asbongah Foods claimed third place.

The winners each take their share of R75 000 in business funding and R90 000 in advertising sponsored by the Courier. They also receive web hosting and domain registration from
Ballito ISP, ongoing mentorship and a year’s membership at the iLembe Chamber

Before the winners were announced, each of the 20 finalists shared a “hot minute” presentation with the audience, telling them about their businesses. They ranged from agriculture and tourism to the beauty and the food industries.

Supported by Enterprise iLembe, Airports Company South Africa, The North Coast Courier, Siza Water and ENGIE Peakers Operations, the programme tackles unemployment by fostering future job creators rather than job seekers.

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