Setšong Tea, Hazile Group win top Veuve Clicquot awards
South African women in agriculture recognised for leadership and community impact.
SOUTH AFRICA – Two standout women entrepreneurs were honoured this week at The Forum in Hyde Park, Johannesburg, for their work in agriculture that blends business growth with deep social value.
Retang Phaahla, co-founder and CEO of Setšong Tea Crafters, won the 2025 Veuve Clicquot Bold Woman Award, while Dr Phindile Cebekhulu-Msomi, founder of Hazile Group, took home the Bold Future Award.
Phaahla, a trained quantity surveyor, shifted her focus in 2016 to build an agricultural business rooted in the rich biodiversity of Sekhukhune, Limpopo.
Together with her mother, Nondumiso, she launched Setšong Tea Crafters to grow, process and market indigenous teas. These crops, known for their calming effects and health support, are harvested with help from local communities.
“Boldness is choosing to lead with purpose, even when the path is uncharted,” said Phaahla. “I am unapologetic about displaying my culture. I am a custodian of my culture and heritage.”
The business goes beyond farming by offering agri-tourism experiences that teach visitors about traditional crops and farming systems. This model creates jobs and builds pride around local traditions.
Jury member Timothy Maurice Webster noted, “I like the fact that you are telling your story and educating the world about Africa. There is something really profound about that.” Amanda Dambuza added, “Retang represents everything right in the world. The audacity to put heritage at the core of a scalable, luxury, impact-driven product is admirable. Innovation runs through every fibre of this business, turning rondawels into full-scale manufacturing plants and upskilling the community, and the societal impact is huge, improving the lives of those marginalised.”
Climate-smart farming at Hazile Group
Dr Phindile leads Hazile Group, an enterprise focused on hydroponics, water recycling and clean energy. Her work aims to tackle food and water stress through better farming technology.
“I’m a woman with a vision to transform South Africa’s food and water status,” she said. Her systems use less water while growing more food, a key need in dry regions. She also founded Acumind Consulting and Basadi Bakopane to support women and youth in agriculture.
“Being bold is building even when the odds are stacked against you and rising anyway,” she said. “It is leading with courage and impact whilst restoring and igniting hope for a better future.”
Amanda Dambuza said, “Phindile is audacious not just in her ability to never let setbacks pull her down, but in how she continues to be curious about herself and the ability to effect change.”
The awards come at a time of rising support for women-led agricultural ventures in Africa, with investment and training programs helping communities adopt cleaner, more productive farming methods.
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