Caption: Unveiling the commemorative plaque to launch Eggsellent by Lebo. The founder Lebo (In the Middle) and DARDLEA MEC Moeketsi (On the Right)
By Kopano Dibakwane & Lwazi Raul-Shongwe
As the MEC cut the ribbon on the new layer houses, residents sang and clapped. In Kwaggafontein, a backyard dream had become a business, and job opportunities created in a rural commuity.
Four years ago, Lebo Mashigo (36) was selling eggs on the streets of Kwaggafontein after school and on weekends. Today, she is the owner and founder of Eggsellent By Lebo, a state-of-the-art layer project with 30 000 egg-laying chickens and the potential to continue creating jobs and feed hundreds of households in Kwaggafontein.
The journey came full circle on Monday 18 August 2026 when Mpumalanga MEC for DARDLEA (Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs), Khethiwe Moeketsi, joined by the National Empowerment Fund, officially handed over the project to Lebo and her team.
Lebo’s story didn’t start with big funding or boardrooms, but all started in her backyard where she implemented her dream.
Her passion for eggs at a young age it is what made her dream come to reality. Running a small household backyard layer production all started as joke yet she knew that somehow the humble idea carried a potential to grow.
That help reportedly came in the 2022/23 financial year when DARDLEA approved her funding through the CASP (Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme). Two environmentally friendly layer houses were built, each carrying 15 000 chickens.
Addressing a packed community hall, MEC Moeketsi didn’t hold back. She called on the community to treat the project as their own protect and treat it with love as well as the people working in the place.
“I call on the Kwaggafontein community to help protect and safeguard the infrastructure at Eggsellent By Lebo Layer Project against any form of vandalism and theft, because this is a community project benefitting many through jobs, food security and economic development,” MEC Moeketsi said.
She said the project represents exactly what government wants to achieve: local food production, jobs, and dignity.
“Eggsellent By Lebo is one of the Department’s biggest success stories in rural areas. We started this project from the ground up about four years ago, and today we see the results,” the MEC added.
The MEC used the event, held during Women’s Month, to speak directly to young women in the hall.
“I encourage every young woman to up skill themselves, establish enterprises and create employment. Don’t wait for opportunities, create them. This is a powerful testament to what could be achieved when government, traditional leadership, and financial institutions collaborated to support the nation’s youth and women,” MEC Moeketsi urged.
Moeketsi has wished the team well and expressed hope that the project would thrive.
“I wish Eggsellent By Lebo all the best. I am confident that the project will be sustained henceforth, thereby giving other people an opportunity to receive government support,” she said.
Beyond the 30 000 hens, the project means jobs, income for local suppliers, and fresh eggs for the community. It also means hope.
“I started small. But I kept going. Now I have a team, and we are building something for our children. The journey has never been an easy one, however because of the team I have all become so easy. I would like to encourage young women out there with dreams not to give up but pursue them. I further would like to thank the Department of agriculture on the funding that they gave me, it was not of waste but empowering other young people and creating jobs for my community,” Lebo said.
Thembisile Hani Local Municipality Executive Mayor, Lesetja Jacob Dikgale, encouraged other young people from the area to follow in Mashigo’s footsteps.
“We want our young people to learn from her that it is possible to be a successful entrepreneur. You have a municipality that is willing to support, to fund you. You have the NEF, who are willing to fund and support you. The only thing that we need from our young people is the desire to succeed,” said Executive Mayor Dikgale.
