Rural cooperative wins NW entrepreneur award

North West Premier Supra Mahumapelo has praised members of the Kopanang Primary Agricultural Cooperative for the work they are doing in bringing wealth and jobs to the people of the province. Image: NWPG

After scooping the category for Top Entrepreneur Processing, Kopanang Primary Agricultural Cooperative pocketed a whopping R1.7m in infrastructure support during an event held in Klerksdorp last week.

The cooperative based in Gopane village, in Ramotshere Moiloa Local Municipality, Ngaka Modiri Molema District, comprises five women.

Speaking at the ceremony, North West Premier Supra Mahumapelo said the nature of the female empowerment programme fits well into the conceived plan of rebranding, repositioning and renewal of the province.

"Having resolved to make agriculture our number one priority in terms of economic development, I wish to express my confidence in the work being done by women of this province, which is proof enough that together, we are committed to uplifting the standard of agriculture in our province.

Women help to create wealth and jobs

"I urge you to remain firm in your resolve to create wealth for our people, and I encourage you to never give up in this regard," he said.

Expressing their excitement at the recognition the received, the Founder and Chairman of Kopanang Primary Agricultural Cooperative, Motlalepula Moroeng, said their achievement calls for more hard work particularly to create more jobs.

Moroeng, who started the project in 2012, said they collect animal fat from the local abattoirs and, which they process to produce bars of soap that are SABS approved.

The soaps are sold within the local communities throughout the country.

Seventeen women-owned projects qualified for this year's competition, in five categories. The Department of Rural, Environment and Agricultural Development will provide infrastructure support worth R500,000 and R750,000 for respective category winners.

These category winners will represent the province at the national Department of Agriculture annual Female Entrepreneur Awards ceremony to be held at Mmabatho Convention Centre on 22 August.

The ceremony is held annually and culminates in a national award ceremony, where winners from all nine provinces vie for national awards in their respective categories.

The Female Entrepreneur Awards are part of an empowerment programme which is in its 15th year. It was initiated to recognise, celebrate, honour and reward the continuous contribution made by women in the fight against hunger, poverty and unemployment among the rural communities.