Thokozani Wines

For many years, the South African government, through various industry role-players, have promoted transformation and upliftment. Regrettably, many of these initiatives that were started up was done to the benefit of the farmers alone; sourcing wine and bottling it with a label donning an African name, keeping the property owner in good standing, though not benefitting any of the people who devote their lives to the brand.

 

This is where Thokozani is different

To understand the story of Thokozani, it is necessary to go back to the beginning. The year was 2005 when, Diemersfontein Wine & Country Estate Owner, David Sonnenberg, approached Denise Stubbs, saying: “Denise, we don’t really have a plan, but how can we change the lives of our community; this Diemersfontein community.”

 

This little sentence planted the seed for one of the finest examples of successful Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) in the Cape Winelands. In light of David’s desire to leave a sustainable legacy, he blatantly refused to follow the route of other BBBEE models and simply offer handouts – his approach was inclined to be a helping hand. “You can not take someone who has been a labourer their entire life, as their parents and grandparents were, put them into the context of business over night and expect them to swim instead of sink”, David explained. He added: “I don’t believe in grand gestures – in saying ‘here, have this farm, you guys’ – and I haven’t been in a position to buy farms. We have to work with a model that we can afford.”

 

 

R301 Jan Van Riebeek Drive

Wellington

South Africa

7654

+27 (0)21 864 5050

denisestubbs@thokozani.co.za

 

 

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