Ostrich farming giant Saag Jonker found dead in raging river - IOL

Well-known Oudtshoorn ostrich farmer Sagaria “Saag” Jonker, 85, was found dead in his Toyota Land Cruiser at the bottom of the raging Olifants River on Tuesday, three days after floodwaters swept his vehicle off a low-water bridge with him at the wheel.

Well-known Oudtshoorn ostrich farmer Sagaria “Saag” Jonker, 85, was found dead in his Toyota Land Cruiser at the bottom of the raging Olifants River on Tuesday, three days after floodwaters swept his vehicle off a low-water bridge with him at the wheel.

Police divers found the Land Cruiser about 300m from the bridge where Jonker vanished.

Police spokesperson Warrant Officer Christopher Spies said a vehicle and the body of a man were recovered from the river near Oudtshoorn at about 3pm.

He said police divers, K9 search and rescue teams, local police and the Oudtshoorn fire department had gone back into the water early that morning.

Spies said an inquest had been opened and a post-mortem would be held later this week to establish the cause of death.

The Jonker family confirmed his death on Tuesday night.

“Though our hearts are very sore, there is also a great sense of gratitude and acceptance that we found him, that we can now bring him home, and that we as a family can say a proper goodbye to him," they said in a statement.

Jonker was driving home from the usual Sunday morning rounds of his farms when he tried to cross the low-water bridge in the Rooiheuwel area, about 3km outside Oudtshoorn, at about 12.50pm.

The river was in full flood after heavy rain in its catchment area south of Beaufort West, and it carried off his brown Land Cruiser, his family said.

A security guard at a nearby guardhouse and a woman who lives near the river saw the bakkie being swept away and raised the alarm.

Police divers, rescue workers, an AMS helicopter, drone operators, farmers and volunteers searched the river and its banks for three days.

Jonker started the Saag Jonker group from a modest base in 1976 and built it into a business that farmed, processed and exported ostrich products from the Klein Karoo to the world.

The Agricultural Writers’ Association of South Africa named him Farmer of the Year in 2000.

Oudtshoorn councillor Johan Allers, who leads the Freedom Front Plus in the town, said Jonker’s death was a huge loss for Oudtshoorn’s business and farming community and for the Klein Karoo.

“Saag was one of the people who helped build Oudtshoorn’s name as the centre of the ostrich industry,” Allers said.

“His influence stretched far beyond his own farms. He built a large business, created jobs and showed what is possible in this region with hard work, perseverance and faith in it.

“For Oudtshoorn, Saag was much more than a successful farmer and businessman. His business gave a living to employees and their families, and that is why his loss is felt so widely.

“Today we think especially of Hazel, his children and the whole Jonker family. A community can honour a man for his achievements, but for his loved ones the loss is deeply personal.”

Allers said that at a 2011 farm awards ceremony, Jonker announced he would write off a prize-winning worker’s car loan with the farm, after the family had supported the man and his siblings when their mother died.

He thanked the police divers, emergency workers, farmers, workers and volunteers who joined the search.

“Your willingness to help showed how the Klein Karoo stands together in a time of need,” Allers said.

“Saag Jonker leaves behind much more than a farm. He leaves a life’s work that has become part of Oudtshoorn’s story. We will remember him with great respect.”