In March 2000, Margaret Elizabeth Whitmore’s life changed in a single day.
Her family had farmed Sunrise Citrus Farm in Zimbabwe’s Mazao Valley for 77 years when government officials arrived without warning, giving her just 24 hours to leave.
The farm, a sprawling 2,400-hectare orange operation, was seized under the country’s Fast Track Land Reform programme.
She was told she could take only personal belongings, leaving behind all equipment, vehicles, and livestock.
With one canvas bag containing family photographs and her grandfather’s farming journals, Margaret crossed into South Africa carrying just $300 and a lifetime of agricultural knowledge.
She began working at Riverside Estate in Stellenbosch, using her grandfather’s detailed records to convince the owner she could boost harvest yields by 20% in her first season.
Over time, Margaret built her own farming venture, Phoenix Farm, alongside her business partner, now husband, Hank van der Merwe.
Then, in November 2008, the unexpected happened: Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Agriculture called asking if she could supply 2,000 tonnes of maize and 500 tonnes of sunflower oil.
The same government that had forced her out was now desperate for her help.
Margaret agreed on her terms.
She demanded premium prices, full payment in US dollars, and personally delivered the first $1.2 million shipment herself, setting foot in Zimbabwe for the first time in eight years.
Her story has since gone viral, with many South Africans inspired by her grit and success.
One user commented: “It is heartbreaking listening to Margaret Elizabeth van der Merwe’s life story. The majority of white farmers in Zimbabwe experienced the seizure of their land, and now this ANC government is doing the same. People do not learn from history.”
Another added bluntly: “Must leave them to starve.”
