The Soil Remembers Her Hands

"I realised wine wasn't just a drink — it represented heritage, culture, and business. And it was time we claimed our place at the table."

Nondumiso Pikashe, 57, is the founder and CEO of Ses’fikile Wines, a Black woman-owned wine brand based in Cape Town, South Africa. At the dawn of democracy in South Africa she was exposed to the wine industry through a government-supported initiative. She quickly became passionate about wine as both a cultural heritage and an economic opportunity. In 2005, she founded Ses’fikile Wines, meaning “We Have Arrived,” a name symbolising the rightful claim of Black women in the industry. Despite barriers like limited access to markets and capital, she has remained committed to creating a successful brand, educating young people about responsible alcohol consumption and the many career opportunities within the wine sector. 

Website: https://sesfikilewines.com/

https://gracamacheltrust.org

“Each woman I train cultivates more than food, she cultivates independence.”

Refiloe Molefe, a farmer, agro-processor, and community activist, founded Precious Harvest, a social farming initiative based in Johannesburg, South Africa. A mother of seven and caregiver to many more vulnerable children, Refiloe began her journey by transforming a neglected bowling green in the inner city into a thriving vegetable garden to feed hungry children. Her commitment grew into a multi-site urban farming project that supplies organic produce, juices, and chilli sauces to local markets and schools. Refiloe trains young people, women, and unemployed community members, in sustainable farming, often using her hands as her only tools. 

https://gracamacheltrust.org

“I refused to let my grandchildren inherit this curse. When science gave no answers, I turned to the soil.”

Lungisa Nonkwelo is a farmer, herbal remedy producer, and community leader from Libode in Nyandeni Municipality, Eastern Cape, South Africa. After working for over 20 years in the financial sector, she transitioned into farming and agro-processing following a personal battle with breast cancer in 2001. Inspired by her family’s tragic history with cancer and determined to find a natural solution, Lungisa developed Defender, an Indigenous Herbal Supplement used for chronic illnesses, including cancer, arthritis, and general immune support.

https://gracamacheltrust.org

“I slept on the floor with only God watching. But the soil knew my name. I wasn’t done.”

Vivian Kleynhans is a trailblazing South African entrepreneur, the founder of Seven Sisters Wines and African Roots Wines—among the very few Black woman-owned wine estates in Stellenbosch, South Africa’s premier wine region.

Born in the small fishing village of Paternoster in current Western Cape, South Africa during apartheid, Vivian and her family were forcibly removed from their home under the Group Areas Act, a law that displaced non-white families from areas reserved for white citizens. Her life has been marked by both personal and professional challenges—including the loss of her home, the collapse of her business, and a painful divorce—but she has emerged as an internationally respected voice in the wine industry.

Visit her website: https://www.sevensisters.co.za/

https://gracamacheltrust.org