Abueng Leepile
Nominee's Province:
North West
Age:
35
Project Name/Description:
Growing More Than Food
What began as a village dream has flourished into a purpose-driven agribusiness that’s putting rural empowerment back on the national agenda. Abueng Leepile, founder and director of Bokamoso Abu Farms, is growing more than just fresh vegetables and herbs — she’s nurturing a future rooted in self-reliance, community, and legacy. In the fertile heartlands of Madibe Makgabane, her farm — which also rears small livestock — is a beacon of youth-led innovation. Blending traditional knowledge with sustainable practices, she’s creating jobs and improving food security in rural communities. “My calling has always been to the land,” she says. “But it wasn’t until I committed fully to farming that I saw how powerful it can be — not just for me, but for entire communities.” That clarity was sharpened during a transformative fellowship in East Africa, where she learned how agriculture can balance profit with purpose. Since then, Bokamoso Abu Farms has blossomed — not just in produce, but in impact. Leepile was named among the 100 South African Shining Stars (2020), featured in the Mail & Guardian’s Top 50 Women in South Africa (2022), and awarded a Certificate of Excellence by African Food Changemakers in 2023. Still, her mission remains deeply personal. “I’m building a farm that outlives me — a rural powerhouse that grows food, jobs, and hope.” In a country facing unemployment and food insecurity, Abueng Leepile’s work is sowing something rare: long-term change.
