OPSA’s owner, the Saag Jonker Group, is spearheaded by Saag Jonker, who believes in the sustainable and ethical farming of ostriches. The Group is also committed to socio-economic development within their community. In 2000, Saag Jonker was chosen amongst several hundred entrants as South Africa’s “Farmer of the Year.”
Ostrich farming is a low-carbon footprint, sustainable and socially responsible farming system that produces healthy and lean animal protein and superior quality by-products. The ethical farming of ostriches is an important part of OPSA’s vision and they adhere to humane farming practices to produce high-quality ostrich product
The Saag Jonker Group is well respected in the local ostrich community, where they have actively pursued the socio-economic development of OPSA’s workers and their families. The workers are regularly awarded accolades in the regional and provincial “Farm Worker of the Year” competitions one of the young farmworkers raised on the farm won the overall provincial title in 2018. Over the years, the Group has invested substantially in housing, sanitation, childcare and recreational facilities for their staff of more than 350 and approximately 1000 dependants.
South Africa was the first country in the world where ostrich farming started on a commercial basis, in the mid-1820s feathers were harveste...