I grew up in the Maanhaarrand area, where my parents were weekend farmers from 1966 until they sold in 1998. It was on this farm that my first husband and I found our oldest child who was abandoned at just 6 months old. I have 3 adult children and no grandchildren which I am waiting for with less and less patience.
I retained 5 hectares of the original farm on which Dave my second husband and I got married. Wanting to create an alternative life to corporate, Dave and I bought a much larger farm in 2006 and we moved permanently to the farm in 2013, with me running the farm and Phefumula Country Retreat, while Dave works as a Commissioner in the CCMA.
I have a long history in the restaurant business as in the 1990’s our family owned and ran Giles Restaurant in Parktown North. We took the decision to sell the business in mid-2018, fortunately before the COVID pandemic started.
Prior to 2013 I was the Group Head of HIV and Aids for SAB Miller plc for 18 years, responsible for developing and guiding global policy and strategy. I worked in countries such as India, Russia, several countries in Central and South America and 20 countries in Africa. Through sponsorship from SAB Miller and working with a local NGO, we also implemented a comprehensive development programme at Masakhane, a settlement near Doornhoek in the Magaliesburg area, over a 4 year period.
Running the farm and Phefumula Country Retreat keeps me busy, however not too busy to promote tourism in our area. I am responsible for the tourism portfolio for the Magaliesburg Landowners Forum, as well as the Chairperson for Route 24.
