LOCAL ELECTIONS TOUR: Black woman farmer conquers citrus industry — but state stalls on land title
Buyiswa Ndyenga climbed from seasonal worker to citrus boss, but red tape is keeping her biggest victory out of reach.
Buyiswa "Steri" Ndyenga, a 56-year-old citrus farmer in South Africa's Eastern Cape region, has made significant strides in her career despite facing challenges due to state bureaucracy. For over four decades, Ndyenga has lived and worked on her family's farm, Willowtree, where she began as a seasonal worker and eventually became the general manager of the four farms that comprise her property, totaling 421 hectares.
The government acquired these farms in 2006 as part of a land reform initiative, but has not yet transferred title deeds to the black beneficiaries, leaving Ndyenga unable to secure loans or expand her business. Despite these obstacles, Ndyenga remains a trailblazer in the predominantly male citrus industry, training women to take on managerial roles and encouraging the next generation of female farmers.
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