As a part-time farmer – what many teasingly call a “weekend farmer” – I headed to the farm this past weekend with a long to-do list and even longer expectations. There is never enough time when you juggle farming with other responsibilities, so every hour on the land counts.
By Lebogang Mashala, editor at African Farming
But as I drove closer to the village, the sky darkened and the heavens opened. A heavy downpour met me on the gravel road, and almost instantly, my mood shifted. I knew this would be one of those weekends where very little physical work would get done. With so much still outstanding, disappointment crept in quickly.
Yet farming has a way of teaching you perspective. Rain, after all, is not the enemy. It is life, even when it disrupts your plans.
As the downpour continued, I found myself indoors watching the Soweto Derby, a match I might have missed had the weather cooperated. What a spectacle it turned out to be.
For those who do not know, I am a staunch supporter of Orlando Pirates. So, you can imagine my satisfaction when we outclassed Kaizer Chiefs in emphatic fashion. There is something uniquely satisfying about winning a Soweto Derby, and even more so when it is done convincingly. For the Buccaneers, victories like that are about pride, identity and history.
But as joyous as that result was for Pirates supporters, I believe there is a community that was even happier this past week: the people of Zebediela.
On Thursday, I attended what I consider a truly historic moment, the rebirth of the legendary Zebediela Citrus Estate, situated south of Polokwane.
Once the jewel in South Africa’s citrus crown, Zebediela exported approximately three million oranges per annum at the height of its 1 500-hectare production capacity. At one point, it was regarded as the largest citrus producer in the southern hemisphere, employing thousands of people, most of them from the surrounding Bjatladi community.
Zebediela was never just a farm. It produced oranges, yes, but it also produced livelihoods, education and generational mobility.
Also watch: Failed land reform project gets second chance: Zebediela revival announced
In 1998, a land claim was implemented against the previous owners by a Communal Property Association (CPA) representing the Bjatladi community. By 2003, ownership and operations were formally transferred to the CPA. It was meant to be a milestone in South Africa’s land reform journey, a model of restitution that could demonstrate what was possible.
Sadly, what followed was a slow and painful decline. Mismanagement, internal infighting, allegations of malfeasance, political interference and prolonged court battles gradually eroded the estate’s viability. High Court liquidation orders and the looming threat of permanent closure cast a dark cloud over what was once a thriving agricultural powerhouse.
Over the years, several attempts were made to revive the estate. Most faltered due to internal divisions and unsuitable strategic partners. But this time, I believe, the story will be different.
WIPHOLD, the Strategic Partner Zebediela Needs
The new strategic partner is Women Investment Portfolio Holdings (WIPHOLD). Founded in 1994, WIPHOLD is widely recognised as South Africa’s first black women-owned and managed investment holding company. Its track record spans multiple sectors, underpinned by disciplined governance and long-term strategic thinking.
Recently, WIPHOLD led a consortium, including the Public Investment Corporation, to acquire Zaad Holdings, a major agricultural seed business, from Zeder Investments for R1.4 billion. That transaction alone signals capacity, financial muscle and serious commitment to agriculture.
I have followed WIPHOLD’s work for many years under the leadership of Gloria Serobe. Mme Gloria is an astute and no-nonsense business leader who has successfully steered complex ventures. She understands capital markets, governance and transformation, three elements that are essential in turning around a project as complex as Zebediela.
Within its agricultural portfolio, WIPHOLD manages the Centane and Mbashe Agricultural Initiative in the Eastern Cape, a large-scale commercial farming model designed to transform communally owned land into productive agricultural hubs.
That initiative has cultivated approximately 2 500 hectares across 34 villages, focusing primarily on maize and soybeans with structured crop rotations. By 2023, it had benefited between 2 300 and 2 800 landowners, more than half of whom are women. Participating landowners receive annual land-use fees, as well as dividends ranging between R5 000 and R8 000.
It is a practical demonstration that communal land, when managed professionally and transparently, can generate both commercial returns and shared community benefits.
Zebediela’s revival will not be easy. Restoring orchards, rebuilding infrastructure and rebuilding trust will require time, capital and disciplined leadership. But if there is a team capable of navigating that complexity, it is Mme Gloria and her colleagues at WIPHOLD.
More importantly, the people of Zebediela can dare to hope again.
Because Zebediela has always represented something bigger than citrus production. In its prime, it helped produce doctors, lawyers, teachers, engineers and IT specialists, young people who carried the pride of their village into institutions and boardrooms across South Africa. The estate did not just sustain families; it shaped futures.
Reviving Zebediela is about restoring economic activity, yes, but it is also about restoring dignity. It is about proving that land reform, when anchored in accountability and strong partnerships, can succeed. It is about showing rural communities that restitution does not have to end in ruin.
As farmers, we understand that seasons change. A heavy downpour may disrupt your weekend plans, but it also nourishes the soil for future growth.
Just like us Buccaneers, after a derby triumph, the people of Zebediela deserve to be called “The Happy People” once more. And this time, one hopes, the celebration will not be fleeting, but the beginning of a lasting comeback.
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