A BUSINESSMAN from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has bought one of South Africa’s top vineyards from a descendant of the first French Huguenot settler to plant vines in the Cape region. George de Villiers on Wednesday said he had sold 33 hectares of his Mont Rochelle estate at Franschhoek northeast of Cape Town to Miko Rwayitare for R17-million ($2,1-million). Rwayitare, 58, is the owner and founder of Telecel, a mobile telephone company that operates in 14 African countries, and has been based in Johannesburg for the past three years. “I have heard that I am the first black African to buy a wine farm. It is very exciting, very special,” he told local radio station Cape Talk. The farm produces merlot, pinotage, cabernet sauvignon, chardonnay and sauvignon blanc, but Rwayitare plans to increase the percentage of red wines from 30 to 50%. – AFP
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