As the country celebrates Father’s Day, farmers across Mzansi have poured out their hearts to their dads with whom they are farming daily. From being bossy, angry at each other, laughing together, to the anxiousness of one day working alone, they share their stories.
Crop and livestock farmer in Wolmaransstad, North West, Lebogang Matsose, farms with her father, Meshack Phume. She says, despite differences on how to operate the farm, the learnings and teachings she gets are what keep her going.
“The way of farming my father’s generation was exposed to is different from what is currently being done now, so such a drift makes us clash at some point. However, my dad taught me that I need to be humble because that is where one can get knowledge, to respect regardless of what you have.
“When things are tough, we do not quit; we keep going. It is difficult to farm with my dad, not always though, because he is always protective and wants to do things that I think I am capable of doing, he takes over. What I can say is that working with my dad, he is a consistent back-up,” she shares.
‘I love working with my father’
Matsose says she does not want to see the day when she has to operate the farm alone as his father ages.
“The bond between my father and me is way strong, it’s even way stronger than my bond with my husband.”
She adds that her father is a great source of support to the operations and a motivator who keeps the ship going.
“The awkward moments are when I have to stand up against him, speaking as his ‘boss’; it’s always an uncomfortable moment, however, sometimes it needs to be done. It is always difficult to tell your father no, I am in charge, and this is how things should be done,” she explains.
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In Emfuleni, Gauteng, livestock and crop farmer Keneilwe Rapeshu, who farms with her father, Dr Mamabolo Raphesu, says it is not always easy farming with her parent.
“Farming with my dad is a mix of mentorship, partnership, and sometimes a test of patience. He’s old-school, and I bring in the new-school, so it’s a balancing act. But there’s a deep respect between us. He trusts me more now, and I value his experience more than ever.
“Working side by side with him, whether we’re herding cattle or fixing a broken fence, feels like a passing of the baton. He values hard work and accountability, and I’ve learned that nothing gets past him, whether it’s a misplaced invoice or a limping calf,” she shares.
Leading by example
Rapeshu said her father leads by example, whether he’s the first in the field at dawn or quietly making tough decisions during a crisis. She said that through her dad, she learned how to manage risk, especially when it comes to market fluctuations in grain and livestock.
“Through him, I learned the value of proper cattle management from genetics to health and nutrition and how every decision made in the kraal has a long-term impact on profitability.
“My dad made it clear early on that continuity matters, and he started involving me in financial decisions, long-term planning, and stakeholder meetings. He doesn’t just want to pass on a farm; he wants to pass on a legacy with structure and sustainability,” she proudly notes.
Rapeshu says there have been fun moments in their farming journey with her dad, “One time we were chasing pigs that had broken out of their pen, and my dad ended up flat on his back in the mud — and still managed to shout instructions like a general in battle,” Rapeshu says.
As the sun rises over their fields, these daughters and their fathers remind us that farming is more than a livelihood – it’s a legacy of love, resilience, and shared purpose. This Father’s Day, we honour the hands that guide, the hearts that teach, and the roots that run deep.
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