With a combined turnover of R59,4 million across live and timed auctions, Bona Bona Wildlife’s 9th Platinum Auction delivered the strongest result in the farm’s history and provided a confident start to the 2026 auction season.
By Charl van Rooyen, senior journalist at African Farming and Landbouweekblad
A weekend to remember
Over the weekend of 19–23 March 2026, the Bona Bona Wildlife Centre near Klerksdorp once again demonstrated why it is considered one of the leading game auctions in the country. Families, seasoned breeders, new buyers and long-standing clients gathered from across South Africa for what became far more than an auction.
The atmosphere was charged from the outset. Smiles in the lodge. Handshakes in the hall. Children on the lawn. The sound of an auctioneer warming up. This was not merely an auction – it was a family experience in the truest sense of the word.
For the Ernst family, who have hosted and developed the Platinum Auction since 2017, the ninth edition held particular significance. As Pieter Ernst Jnr told the packed hall: “If you count the years, the tears start to flow more now. The excitement, the number of people who are here, we can only say thank you. We are literally stunned before you.”
The day began with a bilingual prayer that united the Setswana and Afrikaans communities at Bona Bona. “May today not only be about buying and selling, but about being together. About being good to each other and about the joy of being part of the wildlife industry in our country,” it was prayed.
Pieter Ernst Jnr then took to the podium with a speech that was deeply personal, yet resonated throughout the hall. He paid tribute to the people who have made the Bona Bona journey possible.
Speaking about his father, Pieter Ernst Snr, who handed over the reins of the game enterprise in 2015, Ernst Jnr said: “Dad, that decision of yours to really let go probably says more than words can say. It’s an example for anyone who wants to farm across generations.” He added: “You are my partner. I am grateful for your advice every day. Mom, thank you for always being there for us all. The quiet strength behind everything.”
Wynand van Heerden: A vision based on principles
Guest speaker Wynand van Heerden delivered a compelling address. Van Heerden, who met Pieter in 2013 and has witnessed the growth of the business first-hand, offered both a deeply personal tribute and a forward-looking challenge to the game industry.
On the foundation of Bona Bona’s success, he highlighted the role of the older Ernst generation: “Uncle Pieter and Aunt Anele, thank you very much. Thank you for creating this foundation for the Ernst family. A foundation that is based on steadfast principles. A foundation that is based on respect.”
He referred to Pieter’s vision to build Bona Bona into the leading game auction in the country, to fill the hall and to present the finest catalogue to the industry. “Here we stand today with your vision a reality,” Van Heerden confirmed.
The industry’s path forward
Van Heerden also issued an urgent challenge to the South African game industry. He questioned why South African game farmers still accept a fraction of international prices while producing what he described as the world’s leading product.
“Within a two-hour flight, we can offer six completely different hunting experiences within the borders of one country,” he said.
He outlined three priorities for the coming decades: that every international client should experience an authentic African offering, that the industry should move from price takers to price setters, and that the expanding global demand for healthy, unprocessed protein should be fully leveraged.
“I have no doubt that if we get these three things right, we can turn a R44 billion industry into a R250 billion industry in the next 25 years,” said Van Heerden.
His message to young people in the audience was equally impactful: “Never, ever, ever be ashamed of where you start. Enjoy the journey and ask as many questions as possible.”
The numbers: A story of sustained growth
While the focus of the weekend extends beyond the figures, the auction results are noteworthy. The 9th Platinum Auction generated a combined turnover of R59 384 500 across both live and timed auctions, representing a 54,6% increase on the previous year’s combined total of R38 409 000.
Live auction
The live auction on 21 March generated a turnover of R54 007 000 across 132 lots, with 415 registered bidders, 32 telephone bidders and 1 414 online bids. The average price per lot sold reached R421 930, compared to R356 771 in 2025. Only four lots did not sell (3%) – a testament to the quality of the genetics and the depth of demand.
Timed auction
The timed auction, which ran from 19–23 March, generated R5 377 500 across 59 lots.
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