In a decisive shift in South Africa’s wine value chain, entrepreneur Paul Siguqa has made history with the official opening of Klein Goederust Wine Cellar, the country’s first Black-owned wine cellar, marking a significant step towards ownership transformation in an industry long dominated by established players.
The milestone was officially celebrated by Western Cape Minister of Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism Dr Ivan Meyer, who described the development as a practical example of inclusive growth.
“This is about ownership, sustainability and job creation,” Meyer said, adding that government support programmes played a role in enabling the project.
Siguqa acquired the Franschhoek property in 2019 and embarked on a long-term journey to transform it from a struggling farm into a fully operational wine cellar and tourism destination. The move allowed him to shift from being a supplier at the bottom of the value chain to a producer with control over processing, branding and market access, areas where value and decision-making power are concentrated.
However, the journey was not without significant challenges. When the property was acquired, the vineyards were affected by disease, and the buildings required extensive refurbishment, forcing the team to rebuild almost every aspect of the operation.
“The vines had a disease and the buildings needed serious attention, so we had to start almost everything from scratch,” Siguqa said during a recent podcast.
“That came with challenges, but also benefits. It was an exciting journey. It took us three years to welcome our first visitors, and today the place is very authentic. I want people who visit the farm to feel at home.”
The South African wine industry is a major economic contributor and employer, yet Black ownership at cellar and brand level remains limited. High start-up costs, long production cycles and the need to build credibility in a traditionally exclusive sector have historically constrained new entrants.
Siguqa said his journey was shaped by personal history and a desire to challenge generational patterns of exclusion.
“For over 30 years, my mother worked on this farm and believed that farms were very oppressive to Black people,” he said. “There has always been a narrative that if you are born to farm labourers, your next generation will also be farm labourers. I wanted to change that narrative.”
Meyer said the Klein Goederust project reflects the impact of long-term vision and perseverance.
“This is the classic case of farm workers who gave their children a vision of the future. They did not only dream , they worked hard, invested their own resources, and partnered with industry to turn that vision into reality,” he said.
For Siguqa, the achievement its a strategic move from grape production into full ownership of the wine value chain, a shift he believes is essential for sustainability.
“For many years, Black people have participated in the wine industry mainly as labourers or grape suppliers,” Siguqa said. People will now be able to support black-owned business and feel free and that is where sustainability and real economic power sit,” he said.
Beyond wine production, Klein Goederust is positioned to benefit from wine tourism, creating employment opportunities in hospitality, marketing and visitor experiences, and contributing to local economic development in Franschhoek.
