Apiwe Nxusani-Mawela
Apiwe Nxusani-Mawela | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1984 Butterworth, Eastern Cape, South Africa |
| Occupation(s) | Brewmaster, entrepreneur |
| Years active | 2007–present |
| Known for | First black woman to establish a microbrewery in South Africa; founder of Brewsters Craft |
Apiwe Nxusani-Mawela (born 1984) stands out as a pioneering South African brewmaster, recognized as the first individual from South Africa to obtain a National Diploma specializing in clear fermented beverages. She is also notable for being the country's first black woman to establish a microbrewery. Her enterprise, Brewsters Craft, delivers professional education in beer science and offers quality assurance testing tailored for commercial breweries. Nxusani-Mawela has been instrumental in coordinating International Women's Collaboration Brew Day (IWCBD) initiatives within South Africa.
Early life
Originating from Butterworth in 1984, Nxusani-Mawela was raised in the Eastern Cape region. She is the middle child among three siblings, with both parents employed as educators. She is married to Rudzani Mawela and is a mother of two. From an early age, she demonstrated a passion for scientific subjects, particularly excelling in Biology, Microbiology, and Biotechnology, despite her parents’ preference for her pursuing medicine.
Education
Her fascination with brewing science was sparked during her 11th-grade year following a visit to Rand Afrikaans University. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Witwatersrand and completed an Honours degree in Microbiology at the University of Pretoria. In 2006, she entered the graduate program at South African Breweries (SABMiller), where she undertook an 18-month brewing internship. She achieved both a Diploma in Brewing and the Master Brewer Diploma from the Institute of Brewing and Distilling, becoming the first black African authorized as a trainer by the institute. Furthermore, she was the inaugural South African to finalize the NQF6 National Diploma in Clear Fermented Beverages through FoodBev SETA and holds certification as a beer judge from the Beer Judge Certification Program (USA).
Professional Brewing Work
Nxusani-Mawela’s professional brewing career commenced in 2007, building on her early exposure to traditional beer (umqombothi) during family gatherings. Throughout her career, she has incorporated indigenous ingredients and brewing methods alongside mastering Western brewing techniques honed at SABMiller, acknowledging Africa’s deep-rooted brewing traditions. She also completed a course titled “Thought Leadership for Africa’s Renewal” at University of South Africa (UNISA) through the Thabo Mbeki African Leadership Institute (TMALI), designed to equip Africans with skills for continental development.
Her tenure at SABMiller spanned eight years, where she held positions including brand brewer, brewery manager, project brewer, and craft brewer. In 2014, she departed to co-establish Brewhogs Microbrewery located in Kyalami, serving as brewmaster and co-owner. The brewery produced varieties such as pilsner, red lager, India Pale Lager (IPL), and black IPL. By 2017, she divested her ownership stakes to concentrate on Brewsters Craft—her own company—where she developed Loxton Lager, a lager enhanced with honey, buchu, and fynbos botanicals.
Founded in 2015, Brewsters Craft specializes in providing brewing education, quality control analysis, and consultancy services within South Africa’s brewing sector. Its academy holds accreditation from FoodBev SETA for NQF3-level brewing qualifications and internships as well as recognition from the Institute of Brewing and Distilling for General Certificate and Diploma in Brewing programs. Operating out of Roodepoort in Johannesburg, Brewsters Craft manages a 1000L contract brewing facility that supports certified training, quality assessments, and contract production. It is distinguished as South Africa’s first brewery majority-owned by black women. The company’s initial brew was a sorghum pilsner that melds traditional umqombothi features with a lighter mouthfeel.
In addition to contract brewing services, Brewsters Craft introduced its proprietary beer and cider brand named Tolokazi in 2019—including an alcohol-free beer variant. The name Tolokazi references Nxusani-Mawela’s Xhosa clan heritage. This brand incorporates native African ingredients: sorghum is used in the pilsner; South African hops feature in both lager and African pale ale; rooibos flavors the cider; and hibiscus is included in the non-alcoholic beer.
Beyond entrepreneurship, Nxusani-Mawela holds prominent leadership positions such as Chairperson of the Institute of Brewing and Distilling Africa Section and Chair of the Beer Association of South Africa. She contributes to governance boards including those of the Craft Brewers Association of South Africa and African Manufacturers Association and formerly led the Beer Association’s Board. Through these roles, she actively advocates for brewing education via community engagements and has significantly advanced brewing qualifications among black women across Africa.
Women in Brewing
Nxusani-Mawela is dedicated to increasing opportunities for women within the brewing sector, a field traditionally dominated by men. By predominantly hiring female staff, she actively works to break the notion that brewing and beer production are exclusively male pursuits, striving to boost women's involvement. Historically, women were the primary brewers until the 18th century. She points out that although all entrepreneurs face obstacles such as securing licenses and funding, women often encounter additional difficulties due to their limited representation.
In 2020, she highlighted that the challenges faced today are laying the groundwork for future generations of women brewers, envisioning a time when female participation in this industry becomes commonplace. She played a key role in organizing International Women's Collaboration Brew Day events and spearheaded the creation of South African Breweries’ 2019 special edition “Bold Brew," which was entirely brewed by women and released on International Women's Day. The beer’s ingredients were selected through a social media voting process and crafted by five female brewers. Pranisha Maharaj, Corporate Reputation Manager at SAB & AB InBev, remarked that the brew was intended to symbolize women's strength and independence.