“Don’t Overthink”: Kuruman Woman Leaves Retail Job To Become a Farmer With 133 Cattle and 147 Goats

• Tlhalefo Dithebe from Kuruman in the Northern Cape quit her retail job in 2021 and used her pension payout to start a livestock farm from scratch
• She built Agro Queen from just 31 cattle into a thriving enterprise with 133 cattle and 147 goats
• Her story has inspired many, proving that with the right mindset and discipline, leaving a stable job for farming can pay off in a big way
• Briefly News spoke to entrepreneur Rajesperi Naidoo on why many people choose to leave stable jobs to start their own businesses, and a financial advisor on how people can be like Tlhalefo and start their own businesses

A woman from Kuruman in the Northern Cape walked away from a steady job in retail and put her pension money into farming, and it turned out to be one of the best decisions she made.

Tlhalefo Dithebe studied retail business management and worked in the sector until 2021, when she resigned and invested in livestock. African Farming published her story on 29 April 2026. Today, her farm, Agro Queen, runs 133 cattle and 147 goats and sells to feedlots, auctions and even the local community.

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Farming was already in her blood. Her late grandfather was a well-known farmer in the Kuruman district, and her father kept that legacy going. While she was still studying, her father saved 80% of her R14,000 semester allowance. When she finished, he asked her what she wanted to do with it. That conversation planted the seed for Agro Queen.

She said:

"When I finished my studies, he asked me what I wanted to do with the money. That's when the idea of buying livestock started."

From 31 cattle to a thriving farm

Dithebe started with just 31 cattle in 2021. Her approach was to sell the male calves at auction once they reached the right weight and keep all the heifers to grow the herd.

On the goat side, a high-performing ram helped the farm produce twins and triplets regularly, speeding up herd growth without heavy reinvestment.

She focused on Bonsmara cattle because the breed handles dry conditions well, stays in good condition during drought and performs strongly in feedlots.

One of her more personal business ventures came about after she noticed her son's eczema improving when he drank goat milk. She turned that observation into a product line. The farm now produces goat milk for local markets, though demand currently outpaces what they can supply.

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Building the business her way

Dithebe has invested in her skills as much as her herd. Through programmes like Anglo American's Zimele business accelerator, she improved her branding, learned to write professional business plans and found more efficient ways to run the farm. She does not let the male-dominated industry hold her back either.

"If you really want something, you raise your hand and speak," she said.

Her 12-year-old daughter is already growing crops in the backyard, which means the Dithebe farming legacy looks set to continue.

Speaking to Briefly News writer Nerissa Naidoo, entrepreneur Rajesperi Naidoo discussed why people take the leap:

"Many people leave their jobs because they want more control over their future and the chance to build something of their own. While it comes with risks, running a successful business can create greater long-term financial freedom than staying in a traditional job. There's more pros than cons if you do it right and are consistent with day to day management to make it a success."

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Briefly News also asked financial expert Farook Mohammed what people without large amounts of capital should do if they want to start a business. He said:

"You don't always need a large amount of money to get started. Start small, save consistently, reinvest your profits and avoid taking on unnecessary debt. As your business grows, you can expand step by step instead of trying to do everything at once."

More on South African farmers

• Briefly News recently reported on a woman on TikTok who stunned viewers with an unexpected skill she pulled off on a farm.
• A South African immigrant farming in Alabama shared how his simple, clean approach to meat production has caught the attention of hundreds of eager American buyers.
• A South African H2A farmer in Georgia got pulled over by American police and made one mistake that had things getting tense fast.

Source: Briefly News