South Africa’s tourism industry has come a long way since braaivleis, rugby and sunny skies — it is a sophisticated machine contributing to a growing slice of the gross domestic product. But the sector has an underbelly: with few exceptions, pay is poor and empowerment a bit of a foreign concept.
Spier wine estate is one of the exceptions. Owned by Dick Enthoven, the hard-nosed and soft-hearted politician turned businessman, the estate attracted 420 000 visitors in the past financial year, making it the most visited tourism spot in the Winelands. Seven in 10 were local visitors.
Spier measures itself by 150 sustainable development indicators — including staffing, procurement and environmental management.
“The only way to ensure we can manage these businesses in a way that is linked with our own value system is to put this kind of measurement, this rigour, in place,” says Tanner Methvin, sustainability director. “Some are as simple as ‘Do you have a policy in place to respect human rights in the workplace?’” Others require a close analysis of supply chains.
Spier aims to procure 30% of its leisure business needs from local, small and black-owned or operated businesses. With R45-million spent on procurement in its leisure section, there is potential to help sustain or create locally owned businesses.
The laundry service for its outdoor restaurant Moyo is contracted to a local black operator. Spier is also planning to buy goods and services from businesses in Khayelitsha, Khayamnandi and Jamestown townships.
“Unless you are critically thinking about your contribution to the community that you’re functioning in, your business is not going to have a lifespan,” says Methvin. “Can we really survive on those people who comprise 4% of the economy that can afford to come and partake of our facilities? No, of course not, we can’t. So we have to play a critical role in thinking about wealth creation and social equity and social justice.”
The staff complement is 1 000, up from 700 five years ago. Locals are given preference and are rigorously trained for every part of the business.
Last year the cellar produced 1,2-million cases of wine with the Wine Ethical Trading Association mark — part of an initiative started by European sellers in 1999 to secure labour-friendly supply chains. They also train a new generation of vintners.
A plan for an eco-village and school was less successful: Go Organics closed after sustained losses. The land has been handed over to a small-scale farming trust run by workers who control and manage the trust. Spier will provide land and water free until 2007.