The eThekwini Municipality celebrated the achievements of rural women in KwaMkhizwana in Ward 2, Cato Ridge, by visiting their flourishing community gardens on Wednesday, October 23.
This follows International Day of Rural Women marked on October 15.
A prime example of how one community garden can impact many lives is Vukuzenzele, south of Durban. There are 23 members who are able to provide for their families through eating what their garden produces and selling excess produce at local markets.
The municipality has played a crucial role in supporting these gardens by providing resources and funding, enabling them to sell their produce at local markets, said eThekwini Deputy Mayor Zandile Myeni.
Deputy Mayor Myeni and Whip of the Community Services Committee Cheryl Sisoka attended the celebration where they encouraged women to continue using organic farming methods to sustain themselves.
The Deputy Mayor said these community gardens showcase the transformational power and resilience of rural women, reinforcing not only their societal roles but also their critical contribution to sustainable agriculture.
“Many of these women are the heads of their households and are unemployed. By cultivating community gardens, they are not only supplementing their social grants but are also contributing to food security in their communities. It should also be noted that these gardens are grassroots projects, with government stepping in only to support these women and not to create the community gardens,” said Deputy Mayor Myeni.
Ms Sisoka said the municipality’s commitment to supporting rural women was critical.
“We are currently assisting over 20 community gardens in Mkhizwana, ranging in size from 0.4 to 23 hectares. We have recently fenced these gardens and provided them with static tanks, and through our Agri Ecology Department, we are helping these women get their product to market,” said Ms Sisoka.
Siziwe Ndaba, speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, expressed gratitude for the municipality’s support.
“The assistance from the municipality has empowered us to become self-sufficient and help to provide for our families,” she said.
The visit to the community gardens showcased the positive impact that organic farming can have on rural communities said Deputy Mayor Myeni. By encouraging women to adopt sustainable practices, eThekwini Municipality is helping to promote food security, economic empowerment, and environmental sustainability, she added.
