These days, it is almost unthinkable that any new farmer will have the financial means to buy a farm in the Franschhoek Valley of the Western Cape, as farms here go for from R1 million to more than R2,5 million per hectare, according to transactions in the past 12 months.
Paul Siguqa, however, did just that when he bought Klein Goederust for R12 million with money he saved over 15 years while working in the print media. And to make his story even more extraordinary, Siguqa is the child of a farmworker.
He grew up at Backsberg Wine Estate in Simonsberg, where his mother, Nomaroma, initially worked in the vineyards, and later in the wine cellar where Hardy Laubscher taught her to make Méthode Cap Classique (MCC) sparkling wine, something she did for 37 years.
Yet, having a farmer in the family was never part of Nomaroma’s vision for her children. “My mom vowed she would be the last of her family to work on a farm. She realised the only way to escape her fate would be through education, so even though she could not read, she always scavenged for books, magazines and newspapers. Where other children got toys for gifts, we got books,” Siguqa says.
Translating books into Xhosa as he read, so his mom could also understand, became one of his favourite pastimes, and he believes it also greatly improved his comprehension skills.
His mother also taught him to work hard to achieve his dreams. Siguqa worked in the Backsberg cellar during school holidays and on weekends, and sold fruit as a street hawker to buy his first car and later help pay for his media studies.
A DREAM IS BORN
Denne historien er fra 23 February 2024-utgaven av Farmer's Weekly.
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Denne historien er fra 23 February 2024-utgaven av Farmer's Weekly.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Syngenta Seedcare celebrates a decade of innovation
Syngenta's ambition is to enable their customers' investments to grow in healthy soil from treated seeds to young plants through innovation and collaboration, writes Magda du Toit.
Agri workers shine at Western Cape awards
Lindie-Alet van Staden, a garden and olive orchard manager at L’Ormarins Wine Estate in Franschhoek, was crowned as the Western Cape Prestige Agri-Worker of 2024 at a gala event recently held near Paarl.
Small and large farmers recognised at grain awards
The annual Grain SA/Syngenta awards ceremony bears testimony to the quality of farmers in the grain industry.
Growing partnerships: Fedgroup's flexible and innovative approach
Janine Ryan spoke to Warren Winchester, general manager of impact investing at Fedgroup, about why the company became involved in agriculture, and what it offers farmers and their immediate communities.
Why fish farms fail, and how to avoid becoming a statistic
The popularity of launching fish farms is not matched by their success. Leslie Ter Morshuizen, owner of Aquaculture Solutions, explores the factors that cause most of these businesses to go under.
Where history and modernity meet in a luxurious setting
Brian Berkman kept his eyes peeled for ghosts in the oldest continuously run hotel in South Africa, but all he found was a fabulous two-night stay.
THE HITCHING POST
I'm a stylish elderly lady with a radiant glow and a good sense of humour that keeps me young at heart.
Cutworms: check the weeds on your fields!
Zunel van Eeden explains why understanding the ecological interplay between cutworms and weeds is crucial for effective pest management. Producers should disrupt the life cycle of cutworms to minimise crop damage.
Does high-density grazing mimic grazing patterns of game?
In their paper on high-density grazing in Southern Africa, professors Angelinus Franke and Elmarie Kotzé from the Department of Soil, Crop and Climate Sciences at the University of the Free State say high-density grazing systems may not accurately reflect natural ecosystems. Roelof Bezuidenhout reports.
Global grain outlook: 2024/25 marketing season
In its latest summer crops report, the Crop Estimates Committee says South African farmers intend to plant 4,47 million hectares of summer grains and oilseeds in the 2024/25 season, up 1% from the previous season. As South Africa exports maize and soya bean, Annelie Coleman reports on the latest trends in the international grain and oilseed markets, amid fluctuations in weather conditions and ongoing armed conflicts.
