The Soil Remembers Her Hands

The Graça Machel Trust
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The soil remembers her hands is a podcast celebrating South African women who are transforming agriculture and the wine industry from the ground up. Produced by the Graça Machel Trust, the podcast demonstrates how through their hands, we see dignity, employment, and generational change take root—reminding us that when women lead, communities flourish. We are a non-profit organisation whose mission is to advance systemic change so that African women and girls thrive. 

  1. 3D AGO

    11. Sheila Hlanjwa - A journey of passion, struggle, and unyielding hope

    “I sold my house to fund my dream. When you start from nothing, you fight with everything you have.”  Sheila Hlanjwa is the pioneering founder of Lathitha Wines, a Black woman-owned wine brand rooted in South Africa. Sheila’s entrepreneurial journey began in 2007 after transitioning from a career in waste management. With no prior experience in winemaking, she studied viticulture at Stellenbosch University and has since built a thriving brand around South Africa’s iconic Pinotage grape. In 2021, Sheila purchased a 250-hectare farm near East London (Eastern Cape), where she is developing an ecosystem that includes wine production, agro-tourism, livestock, and hemp farming. A passionate mentor, she employs and trains young Black women and supports her two sons in taking over the family business.   Facebook: Lathitha Wines https://gracamacheltrust.org

    16 min
  2. 14. Ayanda Nayo – From backyard gardens to community revival

    3D AGO

    14. Ayanda Nayo – From backyard gardens to community revival

    “We started with five households. Now, we’re working on five hectares, employing 18 people and feeding over 40 families.” Ayanda Nayo is a South African community leader, mother, and founder of Potsdam Girls (PTY) LTD, an agricultural cooperative based in Potsdam Village, near the coastal city of East London in the Eastern Cape province. Formerly a Supply Chain Manager in the Department of Agriculture, Ayanda made the bold decision to leave government employment to respond to the urgent needs of her rural community—where poverty, unemployment, and youth crime had become widespread. In 2020, amid growing social and economic hardship, Ayanda launched a grassroots initiative that began with simple backyard gardens. Her vision was to combat hunger and restore dignity by helping families grow their own food. What started small, quickly expanded into a five-hectare farming project that now provides food security and income opportunities to more than 40 families. https://gracamacheltrust.org

    13 min
  3. 13. Bukeka Buqwana - Cultivating hope in the cracks of tradition

    3D AGO

    13. Bukeka Buqwana - Cultivating hope in the cracks of tradition

    "Imagine what it would mean for girls to learn that farming isn’t just for old men, but it’s powerful, dignified, and feeds nations."  Bukeka Buqwana is a South African social entrepreneur and agricultural innovator leading rural transformation in the Eastern Cape. She co-founded Zakhe Youth Development, a farming cooperative that creates sustainable livelihoods for women and youth in under-resourced communities. Originally trained as an electrician, Bukeka turned to agriculture after years of unemployment. In 2017, she began cultivating a small, abandoned plot—laying the groundwork for what would grow into a five-hectare operation supplying supermarkets, schools, and early childhood development centres. Today, her cooperative employs over 20 people, the majority of whom are women. https://gracamacheltrust.org

    14 min
  4. 12. Verdra Brown - The Last Lap, a journey of legacy, land and love

    3D AGO

    12. Verdra Brown - The Last Lap, a journey of legacy, land and love

    “It’s about restoring our pride, claiming space, and ensuring that the next generation inherits not just land but a future.” Verdra Brown is a farmer, agro-processor, and community leader based in Nyarai, a rural village in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. After a career in higher education, Verdra returned home during the COVID-19 pandemic and revived her family’s smallholding. She founded All Things Last Lap, an agro-processing and beekeeping business inspired by two surviving beehives left by her late mother. Through this venture, she trains and mentors local women in sustainable agriculture and beekeeping, supporting over 20 women through cooperatives. Verdra’s work is deeply rooted in legacy-building, sustainability, and community development, blending traditional knowledge with modern agro-processing techniques. Verdra also serves as the operations manager of her daughter’s NGO, which is based on the family farm. The NGO tutors nearly 200 children in mathematics and English. Together, they run an after-school programme, creating a safe and nurturing space for children in their community.  https://gracamacheltrust.org

    22 min
  5. 10. Thobeka Mapukata - Cultivating Change

    3D AGO

    10. Thobeka Mapukata - Cultivating Change

    “They told us Black brands don’t sell. Now supermarkets beg for our tomatoes. That’s how you answer doubters — with produce too good to ignore.” Thobeka Mapukata, a 70-year-old farmer and community leader from Eastern Cape, South Africa is the founder and chairperson of Sinemihlali Primary Cooperative. After spending years as a caterer in the Western Cape, Thobeka returned home when her business was no longer sustainable and redirected her focus to agriculture, drawing on her background and passion for rural development. Starting with a single agricultural tunnel, she turned her small operation into a leading tomato-producing cooperative, supplying local supermarkets. Beyond farming, Thobeka mentors young people, women, and ex-offenders, helping them acquire practical skills and transform their lives. Her cooperative employs eight people directly, while her mentorship extends to five other cooperatives working on a secondary 212-hectare farm. https://gracamacheltrust.org

    11 min
  6. 9. Elizabeth "Libby" Peterson - A lioness in the vineyard

    3D AGO

    9. Elizabeth "Libby" Peterson - A lioness in the vineyard

    “Every bottle of Libby’s Pride carries not only wine but the enduring imprint of a love story marked by courage, loss, and resilience.” Elizabeth “Libby” Peterson is one of South Africa’s longest-standing Black women entrepreneurs in the wine industry. Born and raised in Cape Town, Libby began her professional life as a bookkeeper and credit controller. In 2009, she launched her brand, Libby’s Pride Wines, symbolised by the lion, her star sign’s emblem, and a symbol of African dignity. Through grit, faith, and self-funding, she secured shelf space in major retailers in South Africa and gained access to  export markets to Denmark, the UK, and China. Libby is a fierce advocate for transformation, women’s rights, and fair participation of Black entrepreneurs in the wine sector, continuing to fight for inclusion and equity. Website: https://libbyspridewines.com https://gracamacheltrust.org

  7. 8. Sibongile Cele - From accountant to agricultural revolutionary

    3D AGO

    8. Sibongile Cele - From accountant to agricultural revolutionary

    “Every sale is more than a transaction. It’s food on a plate, dignity restored, and a woman taking her rightful place in the economy.” Sibongile Cele is an accountant turned social entrepreneur who founded Abundant Wealth Limited and pioneered rooftop farming in Johannesburg, South Africa. Born in Orlando East, Soweto, Sibongile was shaped by a deep connection to food security as her father who was a schoolteacher, established food gardens at local schools. After qualifying as an accountant and running her own financial services business, Sibongile transitioned into agriculture in 2013, inspired by the growing food insecurity she witnessed in urban areas. She founded Abundant Wealth Limited to promote innovative farming methods like hydroponics and rooftop gardening, addressing food shortages and land access challenges for women. Facebook: Mcebo Fresh Veggie Rooftop Farm https://gracamacheltrust.org

    20 min
  8. 7. Nondumiso Pikashe - Trumpeting African renaissance through the vines

    12/04/2025

    7. Nondumiso Pikashe - Trumpeting African renaissance through the vines

    "I realised wine wasn't just a drink — it represented heritage, culture, and business. And it was time we claimed our place at the table." Nondumiso Pikashe, 57, is the founder and CEO of Ses’fikile Wines, a Black woman-owned wine brand based in Cape Town, South Africa. At the dawn of democracy in South Africa she was exposed to the wine industry through a government-supported initiative. She quickly became passionate about wine as both a cultural heritage and an economic opportunity. In 2005, she founded Ses’fikile Wines, meaning “We Have Arrived,” a name symbolising the rightful claim of Black women in the industry. Despite barriers like limited access to markets and capital, she has remained committed to creating a successful brand, educating young people about responsible alcohol consumption and the many career opportunities within the wine sector.  Website: https://sesfikilewines.com/ https://gracamacheltrust.org

    15 min
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About

The soil remembers her hands is a podcast celebrating South African women who are transforming agriculture and the wine industry from the ground up. Produced by the Graça Machel Trust, the podcast demonstrates how through their hands, we see dignity, employment, and generational change take root—reminding us that when women lead, communities flourish. We are a non-profit organisation whose mission is to advance systemic change so that African women and girls thrive. 

Information

  • Creator
    The Graça Machel Trust
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    14
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Soil Remembers Her Hands
  • Show Website
    The Soil Remembers Her Hands