South Africa's wine industry — one of the oldest in the New World, stretching back nearly four centuries — has long been defined by established players and deep-rooted generational wealth. But a quiet revolution is underway. Young South Africans from township backgrounds are finding innovative ways to carve out space in the vineyards, using every resource at their disposal, including government social support systems.
The SASSA Safety Net as a Stepping Stone
The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) provides various grants designed to alleviate poverty — from the R350 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant to child support and disability grants. For millions of young South Africans, these grants represent a vital lifeline during periods of unemployment.
While the SRD grant alone isn't enough to fund a wine business, it plays a crucial role in providing stability. Young entrepreneurs often use this support to cover basic living expenses while they pursue training, attend workshops, and build the foundations of their wine ventures. You can check your SASSA SRD grant status here to stay on top of your application.
Did you know? Research published in the South African Journal of Business Management found that while SASSA grant holders express strong intentions to start businesses, roughly 70% had no knowledge of available business support programmes. Bridging this information gap is key.
The Real Funding Pipeline
The journey from grants to grapes typically involves layering multiple support systems. Here are the key programmes young wine entrepreneurs are tapping into:
1. NYDA Grant Programme
The National Youth Development Agency offers grants ranging from R1,000 to R200,000 for entrepreneurs aged 18–35, with cooperative ventures eligible for up to R250,000. This is often the first real injection of capital for aspiring winemakers.
2. IDC Gro-E Youth Scheme
The Industrial Development Corporation's youth-focused scheme provides between R1 million and R50 million for businesses with at least 25% ownership by individuals under 36. For wine ventures ready to scale, this is transformative.
3. Industry-Specific Programmes
The Cape Winemakers Guild Protege Programme provides mentorship and hands-on training, while The Wine Arc Incubator currently supports 13 Black-owned wine brands with resources, facilities, and market access.
4. Youth Challenge Fund (SEFA)
Specifically launched to combat youth business failure in the post-COVID landscape, this fund through the Small Enterprise Finance Agency provides targeted support for young entrepreneurs in agriculture and agro-processing.
Young Winemakers Leading the Way
The results are already visible. A new generation of winemakers from township backgrounds is producing world-class wines:
- Praisy Dlamini founded HER Wine Collection in 2020 — South Africa's first all-women, all-Black wine brand. Trained through Elsenburg and the Cape Winemakers Guild Protege programme, she also runs the Students for Change initiative, funding bursaries for matriculants from farming communities.
- Kiara Scott from Mitchells Plain, barely 30, has been described as a future Cape superstar in winemaking circles.
- Banele Vakele, one of the few winemakers from Khayelitsha township, is breaking barriers in a space historically closed to people from his background.
- The Township Winery, a social justice–oriented grower cooperative established in 2010, involves grape growers and winemakers from Nyanga, Khayelitsha, and Philippi.
The Ses'fikile Blueprint
Perhaps no one embodies this journey better than Nondumiso Pikashe, founder of Ses'fikile Wines. A former high school teacher from Gugulethu, she built her wine brand from nothing — distributing bottles from the boot of her car, facing industry gatekeepers who called her brand "too ethnic," and persevering through 18 years of challenges.
Today, Ses'fikile wines have earned 95 points from Decanter and medals at the London Wine Competition. Pikashe actively visits schools in disadvantaged areas across Cape Town, exposing learners to wine industry career paths.
Her vision: To establish a physical home for Ses'fikile in the Cape Winelands that serves as both an education and tasting hub — and to work with school dropouts from local townships as wine ambassadors.
How to Start Your Journey
If you're a young South African interested in breaking into the wine industry, here's a practical starting point:
- Secure your safety net — If eligible, apply for the SASSA SRD grant to cover basic expenses while you build your skills. Visit GrantZA for comprehensive information on available grants.
- Get trained — Look into WSET certifications, Elsenburg Agricultural College, or garagiste winemaking courses.
- Apply for startup funding — The NYDA grant programme is your most accessible first step.
- Connect with incubators — The Wine Arc Incubator and Cape Winemakers Guild Protege Programme actively seek emerging talent.
- Build community — Connect with existing Black-owned wine brands and cooperatives for mentorship and solidarity.
The Road Ahead
The South African wine industry has directed R23.8 million towards enterprise development, training, and ethical trade programmes, benefiting over 1,800 individuals including 545 youth. There are 2,217 learners enrolled in 170 programmes through the wine industry's Learner Management System.
The gap between where we are and where we need to be remains significant. But every bottle from a township-born winemaker, every young person who transitions from grant recipient to grape grower, narrows that gap. As Nondumiso Pikashe says: "Ses'fikile" — we have arrived. And more are on the way.