Patensie celebrates another Agri's Got Talent winner as agricultural workers take centre stage
The agri's got talent initiative, which began as an initiative within the deciduous fruit and wine industries has grown into a collaborative social upliftment programme supported by several of South Africa's leading agricultural organisations.
Honey Katoo from Endulini Fruit in Patensie, Eastern Cape, has been crowned the winner of Agri's Got Talent 2026, bringing the prestigious title to the citrus-growing town in the Gamtoos River Valley for the second consecutive year. Her victory at the gala evening, held at Rusticana near Klapmuts on 16 October, celebrated not only her exceptional singing talent but also the remarkable potential of agricultural workers across South Africa's fruit and wine industries.
The 29-year-old Katoo impressed the judges with powerful performances of And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going and Spirit, emerging victorious from ten finalists who had spent an intensive week together preparing for the competition.
Katoo also received congratulations from CGA CEO Dr Boitshoko Ntshabele in the most recent copy of his weekly From the desk of the CEO newsletter as follows: "We are delighted to announce that, once again, the winner of Agri’s Got Talent, is a contestant from the citrus industry! A big and hearty congratulations to Honey Katoo who hails from Patensie and works at Endulini Fruit."
Clareece Vlotman from Wolfpack in Wolseley took second place, while Lwandile Nantsi from Laastedrift in Ceres finished third.
Katoo follows in the footsteps of Jenedine Jantjies, also from Patensie, who won the 2025 competition. The previous year's success was an important inspiration for Katoo to enter, demonstrating how the achievements of one agricultural worker can encourage others to pursue their own ambitions.
More than a singing competition
Agri's Got Talent was established in 2013 through the vision of former Hortgro CEO Anton Rabe, who recognised the extraordinary musical talent present within South Africa's farming communities and the opportunity to create a platform for agricultural workers to develop their potential.
What began as an initiative within the deciduous fruit and wine industries has grown into a collaborative social upliftment programme supported by several of South Africa's leading agricultural organisations.
The project is funded by Hortgro, the Citrus Growers' Association of Southern Africa (CGA), the South African Table Grape Industry (SATI), South Africa Wine and the Western Cape Department of Agriculture. The competition is coordinated by the Agri's Got Talent organising team, with Food For Mzansi serving as its official media partner.
Its purpose extends far beyond discovering exceptional singers. Each year, ten finalists are selected from agricultural workplaces, including orchards, packhouses and wine cellars, and brought together for a week of professional voice coaching, stage preparation, personal development and life skills training.
The programme helps participants develop confidence, communication skills, resilience and a stronger sense of personal worth. These are valuable skills that extend into their working lives, families and communities.
For many contestants, it is their first opportunity to perform on a professional stage, receive formal training or experience recognition beyond their everyday working environment.
Building confidence, hope and opportunity
Over the years, Agri's Got Talent has become a much-anticipated celebration of the people behind South Africa's agricultural success.
The excitement surrounding the competition reaches beyond the finalists themselves, with families, colleagues, employers and farming communities sharing in their achievements.
The gala evening is the culmination of a transformative experience in which strangers become friends, hidden talents are recognised, and participants discover new possibilities for their futures.
Many former contestants have returned to their communities with greater confidence, becoming role models, encouraging young people and pursuing further opportunities in music, education and personal development.
Katoo's own aspirations reflect this wider purpose. A qualified acting graduate and mother of a young daughter, she hopes to further her studies in education and eventually teach children music and singing.
Her victory is another example of how the competition can nurture ambitions that extend well beyond the stage.
Agri's Got Talent celebrates the dignity, creativity and potential of the people who contribute daily to South Africa's agricultural industries. Through music, encouragement and practical personal development, it continues to provide agricultural workers with something invaluable: recognition, renewed confidence and hope for the future.
Sources
Citrus Growers' Association
South African Table Grape Industry
Farmer's Weekly SA
Hortgro