Township and rural entrepreneurship continue to shape South Africa’s economy, with the sector estimated at R900 billion. It is widely regarded as the lifeblood of the country’s economic growth. As we celebrated the National Entrepreneurship Month in November, the Township Economy Alliance hosted the 7th annual Township Economy Summit in Tembisa, a township well known for its strong entrepreneurial activity.
The summit brought powerful energy and purpose. Business owners from across the country attended in large numbers to showcase their businesses, listen to expert talks, and explore partnership opportunities.
This year’s summit featured a two-day program offering workshops, exhibition stands, networking opportunities, and a pitching competition, creating a space where businesses can learn, grow, connect, and play an important role in South Africa’s economy.
Among many entrepreneurs who were there was Zenande Ndava, the founder and director of Queen’s Greens, a farming business from Bizana in the Eastern Cape
Queen’s Greens: A Growing Farm Business
Queen’s Greens is an award-winning farm business established in 2019 with a clear and simple vision: to grow fresh vegetables and sell them locally. Over the years, the business grew and began supplying peeled vegetables to corporate clients, schools, retail shops, and local vendors in the Eastern Cape.
For Zenande, having a farm is not only about the business side of it; importantly, it’s about job creation, providing healthy food, and inspiring aspiring farmers to start the business as well. “I want my community to see farming as not just a way to survive but as a path to growth in the agriculture space because farms show that rural agriculture has the potential to connect to big markets, offering both employment and access to fresh produce,” Zenande explained.
Township Economy Alliance: A Platform for Learning and Connection
This annual gathering is a premier event for township entrepreneurs, corporate South Africa, and the government to connect inclusively. The Township Economy Summit, hosted by the Township Economy Alliance and led by Bulelani Balabala, is an initiative that supports businesses from different industries, including agriculture, manufacturing, retail, and technology.
Entrepreneurs attended workshops on a range of business topics. Also, there were exhibition stands filled with various products and innovative technology solutions that provided visitors with an idea of the creativity and diversity of township business.
To most of the owners of small businesses, the summit was valuable for learning new markets and gaining practical business knowledge from experienced speakers. Through the networking sessions, the participants were able to share ideas, form partnerships, and explore collaborations that would help them to scale their businesses. The summit created an atmosphere of inspiration amongst entrepreneurs, highlighting how collaborations, knowledge, and business support can help the economy even better.
The Kasi Pitching Challenge
One of the most exciting moments at the summit was the Kasi Pitching Challenge, where the participating entrepreneurs presented their business to a panel of judges to stand a chance of winning cash and prizes, mentorship, and exposure.
The Winners of the 2025 Pitch Competition were recognised as follows:
- First Place: Patrick Thokkie – Lifeway Imphatho R70 000, Nedbank POS support
- Second Place: Lindelwa Mahlalela – Lee Connect R40 000
- Third Place: Tieho Tsiane – Oplene Group R30 000
Finalists: Zenande Ndaba (Queen’s Greens), Tshepo Sethosa (Sightkicktracker), and Pule Motloung (Soweto Drift Academy) R10 000 each
Even though Queen Greens failed to reach the top three, Zenande made it to the finals, and the recognition she got highlighted her hard work, perseverance, and growth potential for her business. The competition not only rewarded innovative ideas but also provided valuable visibility for township businesses.
Resilience and Vision
Zenande’s journey showed the challenges many business owners face, which include limited resources, compliance hurdles, and overlooked markets. “I had recently had an opportunity to export my fresh produce to Algeria through the SEDFA agriculture program, but that did not proceed due to logistics issues. However, I used this disappointment as a motivation rather than a setback to keep me pushing for more opportunities.”
Queen’s Greens is More Than Just a Business
Queen’s Greens pushed back the stereotypes on township and rural businesses. “By running a business professionally, supplying both corporate and local clients, and maintaining consistent quality, it shows that township businesses have the potential to grow in the agriculture sector; with summits like TEA supporting our businesses, we can actually do more,” explains Zenande
Zenande’s story shows that the sky is not the limit when ambition, resilience, and opportunity meet. It could create limitless possibilities. Small-scale farm businesses like Queen’s Greens show how important they are in this agricultural sector, because as their business grows, they contribute to improved food security, job creation, and community upliftment
Township and rural entrepreneurship continue to shape South Africa’s economy, with the sector estimated at R900 billion. It is widely regarded as the lifeblood of the country’s economic growth. As Read More
