As a schoolboy on a bicycle, Jonay Lefa Khoaene pedalled between the classroom and his uncle’s farm to help out during a challenging period. This sparked a lifelong passion that shaped his economic future, eventually leading him to establish Klippies Fontein Boerdery in the Northern Cape.
Khoaene completed his early education at Postdene Primary School before stepping into high school at Blinkklip High School in 2015. It was around this time that his uncle, Johannes “Oom Warra” van der Westhuizen, introduced him to agriculture and became his primary mentor.
“My uncle, Oom Warra, motivated me and introduced me to farming from a small age,” Khoaene recalls.
Born and raised in Newtown, Postmasburg, Khoaene is the second of four children born to Andries and Mietha Khoaene. While both his maternal and paternal relatives have deep farming roots, his immediate home environment was not directly involved in agriculture, a reality that made his own farming journey unique.
In 2016, when his uncle’s farmworker struggled with alcohol dependency, a 15-year-old Khoaene stepped up to fill the gap. Every single day, he rode his bicycle back and forth between the farm and his school to ensure the livestock were properly cared for.
The physical and mental demands were tough, and the dedication cost him academically, resulting in a failed grade 10 year. Yet, that very same year marked a pivotal turning point.
“In June, the goats were giving birth to new small kids, and I think it was in that year I truly started falling in love with farming,” Khoaene shares.
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Stepping out on his own
After matriculating from Blinkklip High School in 2019, Khoaene spent the next few years juggling multiple jobs to earn an income and fund his vision. From early 2020 until March 2021, he helped his older brother run a school transport taxi service.
Shortly after, he took on a dual role at a local stationery shop, Gula, working as a delivery driver and assistant graphic designer.
Yet, even while working these day jobs, his heart remained in livestock. With guidance and encouragement from Oom Warra, Khoaene decided it was time to take his first real step as an independent farmer.
His uncle helped him secure a 5 358-square-metre piece of communal land owned by the local municipality. To formalise his ambition, Khoaene officially registered his business name, Klippies Fontein Boerdery, in February 2021.
Starting on the new land, Khoaene built his foundation with a modest herd of 30 goats.
Fueling the farm through mining
To scale up his young agribusiness, Khoaene needed serious capital. In June 2023, he secured a competitive learnership programme at the local Kolomela mine. For nearly a year and a half, until his contract concluded in November 2024, he operated massive Liebherr 9150 and 984 excavators. He poured his earnings back into developing his land and maintaining his stock.
As he spent more time managing his independent enterprise, Khoaene began paying close attention to local buying habits. After five years of raising goats, he realised his business strategy needed to evolve to meet community demand.
“There is a ‘sheep world’ here,” Khoaene explains. “Local people are far more into sheep than goats. Households buy them regularly for everyday consumption, family gatherings, and traditional functions like funerals.”
He made the strategic decision to shift his focus from goats to sheep, building a reliable direct-to-consumer customer base across Postmasburg.
Independence, job creation, and a vision
Stepping out on his own brought both significant rewards and new challenges.
“Being on my own has helped me learn and grow so much; it feels like being a present father. When I was with my uncle, he was in charge, but now I’m managing it all. Stock theft and losses are tough, but it’s part of the journey,” Khoaene says.
Today, he employs seven people on the farm, including two stock handlers who have been looking after the sheep and goats for over six months.
Looking ahead, Khoaene aims to transform Klippies Fontein Boerdery into a sustainable agricultural hub that creates long-term jobs, improves food security, and empowers rural communities through skills development.
His vision is guided by a quote from South African rugby legend Bakkies Botha: “I want my children to be able to say that their father left the ground better than he found it.”
For other young people aspiring to start in farming, Khoaene’s advice is straightforward: “Start small, but start informed. Learn as much as you can, seek mentorship, and don’t be afraid to ask for help. Use what you have, even if it’s limited. Consistency, patience, and a willingness to learn are more important than having everything perfect from the start.”
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