Matimba Mthombeni
Nominee's Province:
Limpopo
Age:
30
Project Name/Description:
Founder – Maymunah Group of Companies
From selling snacks in high school to building a growing agricultural empire, Matimba Mthombeni is driven by resilience, vision, and a commitment to his community. Born and raised in Giyani, he is the founder of the Maymunah Group of Companies, with ventures in poultry, construction, funerals, and general trading. His entrepreneurial journey began with 100 broiler chickens in 2022, spotting a gap in the poultry market. Today, Maymunah Chickens produces 900 chickens per cycle with plans to expand into egg farming and hatcheries—creating jobs for young people in his hometown. “My path hasn’t been easy. I lost over R100,000 to scams and suffered major losses from natural disasters—but I didn’t give up. With support from family and relentless passion, I reinvested in my dream and even bought land to grow the farm,” he says. His efforts earned him the 2024 FOYA Africa Agripreneur of the Year award. But for Matimba, the real reward is building a ripple effect of hope and economic revival across Greater Giyani. His long-term goal: to see his companies listed on the JSE and be remembered as someone who turned struggle into opportunity.
