The launch of Thokozani the new partner company at Diemersfontein was held on 16 August at the wine estate where some 150 guests celebrated the beginnings of this new enterprise. ‘Using Diemersfontein as a base initially, we hope to build expertise, capacity and opportunity for our employees in the hospitality, wine and related businesses’.

Denise Stubbs , Brett Rightford and David Sonnenberg represented Thokozani and Diemersfontein at the London Trade Show, May 2007. Our wines and project was very very well received. We were part of 35 Wines estates in South Africa who represented our country.

The worksite of Diemersfontein and Thokozani was subjected to an Ethical trade audit: During this audit, practises and policies at the workplace are benchmarked against a set standard, based in this case on there ETI base code, and the South African National Laws governing workplaces. During this audit, certain non-compliances were identified, which was subsequently addressed by the management team, and presented toWIETA as an improvement plan, which was accepted by the WIETA Accreditation committee, consisting of representative from Labour, NGO’s and producers. This will be presented by the WIETA office to Diemersfontein and Thokozani as a certificate of accreditation.