The South African wine industry will produce the first draft of a Black Economic Empowerment charter within six months.
The announcement came from Gavin Pieterse, chairman of the South African Wine Industry Trust (SAWIT) at the end of a weekend conference hosted by the SAWIT and the South African Wine and Brandy Company (SAWBC). Hundreds of representatives involved in the South African wine industry attended the conference including major players and producers, the local community and the Department of Agriculture.
The overall aim of the meeting was to achieve a smooth black integration into a previously white-dominated area of South African business.
Poverty alleviation and skills development, enterprise development, equity transactions and corporate social investment were the four key areas which should form the basis for the charter.
The charter itself will be drafted by a 'steering committee' made up of representatives from all areas of the South African wine industry.
According to Pieterse, one of the most encouraging outcomes of the conference was minister of agriculture Thoko Didza's announcement that she would make her entire executive team available to SAWIT. 'This level of commitment is most encouraging not only to SAWIT but the entire wine industry,' said Pieterse.
However, one of the major obstacles to black empowerment in this sector was a lack of communication – something Pieterse said would be addressed mainly by the creation of a website which would be online shortly.
'I see this as a watershed initiative in setting empowerment and growth in the wine industry on a solid base for the future,' said Ms Didza in her opening speech.
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