In the 1946, PPC purchased the farm Ongegund outside Riebeek West in the western Cape for its appreciable lime deposit, an essential element in manufacturing cement. In the 1950's, a cement factory was established on the site, which was operational in 1960. The farm is also known for the house known as Smut Cottage situated on Bovenplaas, the high-lying part of the original farm Ongegund, which was the birthplace of General Jan Christiaan Smuts, who left his mark on South African and international politics as political leader and thinker for almost half a century. In 1955 the Board for National Monuments put up a bronze plaque at the birthplace, but it was first proclaimed a national monument in 1975.

The farm Ongegund was bought by General Smuts's great- grandfather, Michiel Smuts, from a P Burger for 533 riksdaalders in 1813. In those days it was still the traditional 60 morgen property of the Kompanjie. With the concession of additional ground by the British administration in 1818 and 1831 under the new quitrent system, the farm grew to 1 700 morgen. A valuable wine and grain farm was established.

Michiel Smuts left the farm to his five sons. One of them, Michiel Nicholaas, was General Smuts's grandfather, whose son Jacobus Abraham was General Smuts's father. (In life he was member of the Cape Parliament for Malmesbury). Jacobus Abraham apparently built the house which is now known as Smuts House where General Jan Smuts was born. Led by the chairman of PPC, Mr George Bulterman, Smuts House was restored in 1986 as General Smuts's parents would have known it at the time of his birth - 116 years later - by the Cape architect Gawie Fagan with financing from PPC.