No Joke: 11th-generation Van der Merwe farm is Africa's oldest family business
A Western Cape farm established in 1743 and still owned by the same family after eleven generations has been recognised as Africa's oldest family business.
Boplaas Farm near Ceres was founded by Izaak van der Merwe almost 300 years ago. It is currently home to 10th- and 11th-generation Van der Merwes and has evolved into a wholly owned group of export fruit-producing farms and agriculture-related enterprises.
Boplaas features in a global list of family businesses compiled by UK global payroll company Payroll Prices, which identified the oldest family businesses in every country.
The Boplaas group cultivates top-tier pome, stone, and citrus fruit, along with medicinal cannabis, on four farms. According to the Boplaas website, the group’s export footprint includes more than 80 countries in Europe, the Far and Middle East, South-East Asia, North America, Africa, and Australia.
Boplaas may have heritage bragging rights in Africa, but it is a relatively recent family business compared with the oldest worldwide. These include:
Hōshi Ryokan: A hotel and spa in Japan founded in 718 AD.
R.J. Balson & Son: A UK butcher shop established in 1515 during the reign of King Henry VIII.
Avedis Zildjian Co.: A cymbals and drum equipment company established in Constantinople in 1623 and relocated to the U.S. in 1929.
Natasha Murray, Boplaas HR and compliance manager, said the Van der Merwe family is proud of their heritage. “For generations, stewardship has guided the family’s decisions,” Murray told Cape Chamber. “They recognise that they are custodians rather than owners of the legacy they have inherited. The family has sought to responsibly care for the land, their people, and their business, always with future generations in mind. This long-term perspective has enabled them to remain one of the oldest and most enduring family businesses.”
“In a nutshell - take care of the land and the land will take care of you,” Murray said.