Postmasburg — A childhood spent pedalling between classroom and kraal has become the foundation for an emerging farming enterprise in the Northern Cape. Jonay Lefa Khoaene, born and raised in Newtown, Postmasburg, now runs Klippies Fontein Boerdery after years of practical apprenticeship under his uncle.
Early years and a hands‑on apprenticeship
Khoaene completed his primary education at Postdene Primary School and moved to Blinkklip High School in 2015. He is the second of four children of Andries and Mietha Khoaene. Although both sides of his family have farming backgrounds, his immediate household was not actively farming, a contrast that made his personal entry into agriculture distinctive.
In 2016, at about 15 years old, he assumed regular livestock‑care duties when his uncle’s farmworker struggled with alcohol dependency. Each school day he cycled between school and the farm to ensure animals were tended, an experience that brought both physical strain and an emerging commitment to farming.
“My uncle, Oom Warra, motivated me and introduced me to farming from a small age,”
Khoaene names Johannes “Oom Warra” van der Westhuizen as his mentor. He recalls a turning point that same year when the goats began kidding, and he realised he was falling in love with farming.
Finding his feet after school
After matriculating from Blinkklip High School in 2019, Khoaene spent several years combining casual work with the steady building of his agricultural ambitions. From early 2020 until March 2021 he helped his older brother operate a school transport taxi service. He later worked at a local stationery outlet, performing dual roles as delivery driver and assistant.
These jobs provided income and mobility while he prepared to take on full responsibility for his own agricultural activities. The trajectory — from farm helper to proprietor — is clear in the chronology of his life and in the name of his operation, Klippies Fontein Boerdery.
What the story means for Northern Cape agriculture
Khoaene’s experience illustrates a pathway into farming that relies on community mentorship and practical, on‑the‑job learning rather than formal agricultural pedigree alone. In a province where settlements are scattered and services uneven, mentorship on existing farms can be a decisive factor for youth who want to remain in rural areas and make a living from the land.
While Khoaene’s narrative is personal, it touches on broader themes relevant to local readers: rural employment, youth agency, and the role of family and neighbours in sustaining agricultural knowledge. His shift to livestock and mixed farming activity reflects a resilient approach to farming in the Northern Cape’s environment.
Timeline: key moments in Khoaene’s journey
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 2015 | Started high school at Blinkklip High School |
| 2016 | Began daily farm duties at age 15; mentorship under Johannes van der Westhuizen |
| 2019 | Completed matric |
| 2020–Mar 2021 | Worked in school transport and later as delivery driver/assistant at a stationery shop |
Practical takeaways for aspiring farmers
- Mentorship matters: access to experienced farmers can provide vital skills and responsibility at a young age.
- Work flexibility helps: casual and part‑time work can fund early farming ambitions without requiring immediate large capital investment.
- Persistence through setbacks: early academic strain did not stop Khoaene from building a viable livelihood in agriculture.
Khoaene’s path is not an instruction manual but rather an affirmation that hands‑on experience, community support and incremental steps can lead to ownership of agricultural activity in the Northern Cape.
As Klippies Fontein Boerdery establishes itself, the next stages for Khoaene will likely involve balancing production, market access and the practical realities of farming in a semi‑arid province. His story offers a modest, locally rooted blueprint for others who wish to remain in their towns and make a living from the land.
Reported details about Khoaene’s schooling, family background, mentorship and early employment are drawn from the profile released by Food For Mzansi on 17 August 2026.
