Written by: Onkarabile Matobela, PMEL Officer at Solidaridad (Southern Africa)
Gadifele Phatshwane is a 43-year-old farmer from Rabokala, in South Africa’s North West province. She joined Solidaridad’s Social Employment Fund programme in July 2024, taking part in Phase 2 and staying on into the first quarter of Phase 4. That support helped her strengthen and expand the enterprises she now manages through Molemi T Greens, Madibeng.
Her farming activities include producing lettuce, cucumber, carrots, cabbage, tomatoes, spinach and beetroot for local markets and small businesses, while also managing cows, pigs and chickens as additional income streams. Beyond farming, she operates catering and décor services for funerals and weddings, and produces homemade jams and sauces using fruit from her own production.
Participation in the Social Employment Fund programme contributed significantly to strengthening both her technical and business capabilities. Through the programme, she gained practical skills in farming, marketing, financial management and operational planning, which helped her structure and manage her enterprises more effectively.
Serving as a Team Leader also exposed her to managing people, handling conflict and working with different personalities, which she says improved her patience, confidence and communication skills and bolstered her ability to manage multiple responsibilities simultaneously.
She was able to reinvest the stipend earned through the programme into her enterprises by purchasing equipment such as a blender for jam production, while also assisting with household needs including food and electricity.
The economic impact of Gadifele’s enterprises is evident at the household level, where revenues support basic needs and enable reinvestment into productive activities. She has also adopted innovative strategies to mitigate resource constraints, such as producing organic fertilizers from kitchen and livestock waste and coordinating logistics to overcome transport limitations.
Despite ongoing challenges, including limited access to water, shade nets, formal registration and specialized equipment, her entrepreneurial approach exhibits resilience and adaptability. Engagement with the Social Employment Fund programme has catalyzed significant personal benefits. Gadifele reports increased confidence, independence and self-efficacy, which manifest in her interactions with clients and community members.
Her expanded capacity to negotiate and deliver products and services to larger markets has enhanced her visibility and credibility within the community. This evolution is encapsulated in her personal maxim, “Perseverance pays,” she says, reflecting on her commitment to iterative learning and sustained enterprise development.
“I can now approach new clients and markets with confidence, deliver samples and manage multiple streams of production and services. The business has not only improved my household’s income but also strengthened my professional identity,” concludes Gadifele, Social Employment Fund participant in an exclusive interview with Solidaridad Southern Africa’s regional IMPACT Magazine.
Implemented in South Africa by Solidaridad (Southern Africa), in partnership with the Industrial Development Corporation, the Social Employment Fund programme is contributing to improved food security among participating households and communities in Gauteng and North West.