The Benchmark brand, which was a beacon in the stud cattle industry in the Free State and South Africa for almost two decades, has now come to an end.
By Johan Norval
The Benchmark Bonsmara stud was operated by Hennie Bezuidenhout on the farm Welgegun near Excelsior from 1988 to 2006. The herd gained fame, among other things, through the then “astronomical” prices achieved by the bull AG 338 and a Bonsmara cow, which sold for R850 000 and R520 000 respectively.
After selling some of his Free State farming interests to Kevin Cloete, a businessman and entrepreneur from Boksburg, in 2006 and discontinuing his Bonsmara stud, Bezuidenhout bought the Tambotie River game farm at Vaalwater in the Waterberg. There he continued the Benchmark brand with a commercial Bonsmara herd.
Cloete operated the Welgegun property as Circle C for 17 years before selling it to the state for farmer resettlement in 2026 for R25 million. The sale was followed by a complete dispersal auction.
Bezuidenhout says he has now reached the “retirement age” of 70 and has decided to sell the commercial herd. He retains a majority stake in the Tambotie River game farm, together with its five-star lodge. The Paul family, who have business ties in Germany and elsewhere in Europe, acquired a minority interest in the property together with a hunting concession. “The cattle are now being sold because the foreign hunters do not want to see farm animals among the game, such as buffalo,” he says.
However, there is no sign of retirement. Bezuidenhout continues to develop hospitals and medical facilities from his Centurion base. His son-in-law, Gerrie Cilliers, has taken over the Benchmark group’s remaining land interests at Excelsior, allowing Bezuidenhout to focus solely on his business interests.
The commercial Benchmark herd was offered at a stop-farming auction at the Ellisras auction pens on 24 July.
The top-priced bull sold for R60 000, while the bulls achieved an average price of R40 400. The female animals achieved the following average prices: cows, R18 400 (top price R30 500); pregnant cows, R26 000 (top price R36 000); pregnant cows with calves, R27 000; cows with calves, R30 000 (top price R40 000); pregnant heifers, R24 500 (top price R31 000); open heifers, R15 800 (top price R17 000); and steers, R9 800 (R52/kg).
The auction was presented by André Kock & Seun Limpopo. Paul van Vuuren Jr was the auctioneer.
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