GEORGE NEWS - Southern Cape Agriworker of the Year Annita Maqashalala from George won the Middle Management category in the prestigious Western Cape Agriworker of the Year competition.
Maqashalala is the packhouse manager at the berry farm Professional Horticulture Consulting (PHC) in Geelhoutboom, whose operations stretch over five different farms.
"I feel really honoured to be recognised in this way for my hard work," says Maqashalala. "I'm super excited and relieved. It was a tough competition. This is for sure a great motivation to keep on striving for excellence in what I do."
Asked about future ambitions, she said she would like to pursue her enthusiasm for sustainable agriculture. "I really am passionate about farming in a way that keeps the environment safe and I'd like to be able to explore different sustainable methods in my own small-scale farming practice."
She is not new to the agriworker competition. In 2019 she also won the Foreman category, and in 2021 she took the Best Potential award in both the Southern Cape and Western Cape Agriworker competitions.
"I'm grateful to God, my family and partner, to my directors, Dr Gavin Lindsley-Noakes and Francois Roets, the whole team at PHC and the Western Cape Department of Agriculture for all their support and guidance."
Anitta Maqashalala
She holds a diploma in Agriculture from Nelson Mandela University (NMU) George Campus. Her first job was an internship at Mandalay Farm before she was headhunted by Linsley-Noakes, a former lecturer and now owner of PHC, who had noticed her potential at university.
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