The brothers who built a successful farm in the Eastern Cape

Through strategic partnerships and perseverance, brothers Simphiwe, Thembinkosi, and Linda Fani have built Doornrivier Farm in Somerset East, Eastern Cape, into a thriving livestock operation. Simphiwe and Thembinkosi spoke to Octavia Avesca Spandiel about the land acquisition, infrastructure, and financial challenges they have overcome to reach a point of sustainable production.

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Once Doornrivier Farm, located in Somerset East in the Eastern Cape, is a shining example of resilience, determination, and the power of collaboration in South Africa's agriculture sector.

Owned and managed by the three Fani brothers – Simphiwe, Thembinkosi, and Linda – the farm has grown from humble beginnings to a prosperous livestock business.

Simphiwe says their journey into farming began in their youth. Raised in a rural community, they spent their early years looking after their father's cattle in communal grazing areas.

“We inherited the farming story from our father. The hands-on experience with livestock management instilled in us a deep understanding of farming, even before we acquired formal training,” he adds.

Even with their strong agricultural foundation, the brothers had to overcome significant barriers to establish their own farming business. In an effort to expand their cattle numbers, they began purchasing additional livestock.

“However, without adequate land, our expansion efforts were constrained. Recognising the need for private ownership, our father played a pivotal role in advocating for government support for us to acquire farmland,” says Simphiwe.

Through South Africa's land redistribution initiatives, the brothers were selected to occupy a farm, marking a critical turning point in their journey.

“My father was involved in fighting with government to buy that farm. We were fortunate enough to be among the selected farmers to occupy the land,” he explains.

The brothers were initially allocated grazing camps on the farm Kokaskra in Somerset East. However, disputes with other farmers over grazing rights soon erupted, making it difficult for the brothers to operate peacefully.

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