MEC Khethiwe Moeketsi Calls on Kwaggafontein Community to Protect Eggsellent By Lebo Chicken Layer Project

DARDLEA MEC Khethiwe Moeketsi has called on the Kwaggafontein community to protect and safeguard the infrastructure of the Eggsellent By Lebo Chicken Layer Project against vandalism and theft. The project represents an important investment in local agriculture, job creation, food security and economic development. Moeketsi made the call during the official handover of the state-of-the-art chicken layer project to beneficiary Lebo Mashigo and her team. The project now supports a large-scale operation involving 30,000 egg-laying chickens, creating opportunities that extend beyond the farm itself. The MEC stressed that protecting the infrastructure is essential if the project is to continue benefiting the community and creating opportunities for future generations.

MEC Moeketsi was joined by representatives of the National Empowerment Fund during the official handover ceremony. Thembisile Hani Local Municipality Executive Mayor and representatives of the local Ndzundza Somphalali Traditional Council also attended the event, highlighting the importance of cooperation between government, traditional leadership and the community. Addressing a packed community hall, Moeketsi urged residents to take collective responsibility for protecting the agricultural investment in their area. She warned that vandalism and theft could undermine the progress made through years of investment and hard work. Her appeal placed the community at the centre of efforts to ensure that the Eggsellent By Lebo project remains sustainable and continues to generate economic opportunities.

The MEC also used the occasion to encourage young women to develop their skills, establish businesses and become creators of employment rather than only seeking employment opportunities. She urged young women to take advantage of available opportunities to gain knowledge and build enterprises that can contribute to their communities. Her message was closely linked to the story of Mashigo, whose agricultural journey demonstrates how a small-scale idea can develop into a substantial commercial operation with the right support. Moeketsi expressed her best wishes to Eggsellent By Lebo and confidence that the project would be sustained going forward. She also highlighted the possibility of the project’s success opening the door for other aspiring entrepreneurs to receive government support.

The handover represents one of the Department’s success stories and follows an agricultural development journey that began about four years ago. Mashigo, who is 36 years old, developed an interest in egg production from a young age and initially operated a household backyard layer production business. She sold eggs on the streets as she built experience and developed a customer base through her small-scale operation. As demand for her products grew, she approached the Department for assistance to expand her production capacity and turn her passion into a larger agricultural enterprise. Her journey shows how grassroots agricultural activities can provide a foundation for business development when entrepreneurs receive the resources and support needed to scale their operations.

Government support eventually enabled the project to move from backyard production to a much larger commercial operation. During the 2022/23 financial year, the project received funding through the Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme for the construction of two environmentally friendly layer houses. Each house was designed to accommodate 15,000 birds, giving the project a combined capacity of 30,000 chickens. The infrastructure has created the foundation for Eggsellent By Lebo to increase egg production while operating on a significantly larger scale than Mashigo’s original backyard business. The investment also demonstrates the role that agricultural support programmes can play in helping emerging farmers expand production and participate more meaningfully in the local economy.

The development of the Eggsellent By Lebo project has significance beyond the production of eggs. A large-scale layer operation can create direct employment opportunities while also supporting activities linked to feed supply, transportation, maintenance, distribution and retail. Increased local egg production can contribute to food security by making an essential food product available through local agricultural activity. The project can also help demonstrate to young people that agriculture offers opportunities across production, business management, logistics, marketing and other areas. For the surrounding community, the continued success of the project could therefore create economic benefits that extend beyond those directly employed at the farm.

The call for community protection is particularly important because agricultural infrastructure requires substantial investment and regular maintenance. Layer houses, equipment and other farm facilities provide the physical foundation needed to maintain production and protect livestock. Damage caused by vandalism or theft can disrupt operations, increase costs and threaten the sustainability of an agricultural enterprise. When a publicly supported project is damaged, the consequences can also affect the wider community because fewer jobs and economic opportunities may be available. Protecting the infrastructure therefore requires cooperation among the beneficiary, employees, local residents, community leaders and relevant authorities.

The involvement of the National Empowerment Fund and local government structures also reflects the importance of partnerships in supporting enterprise development. Government funding can provide the infrastructure that emerging businesses need, but long-term success depends on effective management, continued production and a supportive local environment. Mashigo and her team now have the responsibility of building on the investment and ensuring that the project remains productive and financially sustainable. The community also has an important role to play by supporting local economic activity and reporting threats to the project. Strong cooperation can help ensure that the investment achieves its intended purpose and continues to create opportunities.

For young women in Kwaggafontein and surrounding communities, Mashigo’s experience provides an example of how determination and business development can turn a small agricultural activity into a much larger enterprise. Her progression from selling eggs produced through a household backyard operation to managing a project with 30,000 layer chickens illustrates the potential for growth within the agricultural sector. It also reinforces the importance of identifying an area of interest, developing practical skills and seeking appropriate support when an enterprise is ready to expand. Moeketsi’s call for young women to upskill themselves and establish businesses therefore forms an important part of the broader message delivered at the handover. Successful projects such as Eggsellent By Lebo can help show that entrepreneurship can contribute directly to employment and local economic development.

The Eggsellent By Lebo Chicken Layer Project now enters an important stage as its infrastructure and production capacity are established. The challenge is to maintain the facilities, manage the operation effectively and protect the investment from vandalism and theft. Continued community involvement will be important in creating an environment where the project can operate safely and contribute to local development. The story of Lebo Mashigo also demonstrates how government agricultural support can help an emerging entrepreneur move from small-scale production towards a larger commercial enterprise. With the right management, community support and protection of its infrastructure, Eggsellent By Lebo can continue contributing to food security, employment and economic development in Kwaggafontein.