BLACK ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT

The wheels of Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) have turned with increasing momentum in the South African wine industry, with the wine community becoming involved in empowerment as part of the government’s overall AgriBEE programme. Working with government, the industry developed a charter to ensure that over the next decade a more representative ownership structure emerges.

The South African wine industry BEE Charter and Scorecard were driven by the South African Wine & Brandy Company (SAWBCo) and, as a partner, the South African Wine Industry Trust (SAWIT). A series of workshops to guide interested parties in the industry on implementation have been conducted. Several task teams focused on certain specialised areas of BEE have also been established.

The historical Boschendal estate changed hands at the end of 2003 in a black empowerment deal valued at R323 million, putting it at the forefront of BEE initiatives. Wine and spirits producer KWV Limited signed a deal with Phetogo Investments, a black empowerment consortium, in 2004. Phetogo acquired a 25,1% stake in KWV, which supports several empowerment projects, sending out a powerful message for transformation. JSE-listed wine and spirits producer Distell’s BEE deal saw it sell a 15% stake in its 100%-owned sole operating subsidiary, South African Distilleries and Wines (SADW), to an empowerment consortium.

THE WINE INDUSTRY TRANSFORMATION CHARTER
Download the Charter (September 2007)