Local Women Entrepreneurs Succeed in the face of Adversity. By: Tsholofelo Letsholo Thandeka Gumede The global economy benefits significantly from the socioeconomic contributions made by female entrepreneurs. According to data from the Boston Consulting Group, companies run by women typically have higher returns and are more successful financially than those run by men, making them a safe haven for funders and investors. In South Africa women’s entrepreneurial engagement increased in 2021-2022, with 11,1 % of working age women engaging in early stage entrepreneurial activities. However, just 21% of formal SME firms are owned or operated by women. Despite poor access to funding, land and unsupportive entrepreneurial conditions faced by women in the agricultural sector, Thandeka Gumede, a retired social worker, fashion designer from Ndwedwe, located northwest of Durban chose to follow her passion and is now a mixed farmer entrepreneur. With an early fa...