Four go-getters reveal the reasons behind their success to KARLA DE BOD.
From Humble Beginnings to Leader of the Year

Managing director of Thokozani Wines and Fedhasa’s 2024 Leader of the Year, Denise Stubbs aims to be an inspiration to people who believe that their circumstances limit their potential, and a reminder that with perseverance and a commitment to excellence, anything is possible.
DENISE STUBBS was born and raised in Pniël just outside Stellenbosch, her parents both labourers in the wine industry. Having grown up during the apartheid era and having experienced the detrimental effects of the dop system, she has challenging memories associated with wine. Nevertheless, she joined Diemersfontein Wines in 2002 as HR officer, and found she had a calling for empowering the farm’s labourers and transforming their lives.
Soon afterwards, in collaboration with David Sonnenberg, owner of Diemersfontein Wines, Denise helped build and develop Thokozani Wines.
“Thokozani, which means ‘celebration’ in Zulu, represents more than just a wine brand,” she says. “It embodies a vision of empowerment and transformation. We have expanded to include our own wine label and a guest house and conference facilities, all aimed at providing opportunities and celebrating the hard work and dedication of our community.”
By focusing on goals and strategies, Denise is confident that Thokozani Wines will rise to new heights. The company’s mantra ‘We worked the land and own the brand’ perfectly encapsulates its dedication and the authenticity of every Thokozani wine bottle.
“Our vision is to create a legacy that celebrates our roots, our hard work and the beauty of the Cape Winelands, and we invite the world to join us in this celebration,” says Denise.
Her favourite part of the long process of building Thokozani Wines has been to witness the employees’ transformation into leaders who share a deep passion for the enterprise. She adds, “It’s been incredibly rewarding to see them take ownership – they are all shareholders in the company – and watch their personal and professional growth.”
In her role, the most significant lesson Denise has learnt is that leadership requires balancing love and respect by making difficult decisions for the greater good. This mindset earned her Fedhasa’s 2024 Leader of the Year award.
“This is not just a personal milestone, but a testament to the idea that anyone, regardless of their background, can achieve great things with hard work, dedication and passion,” she explains.
Considering her humble beginnings, the recognition Denise received despite competing against giants in the hospitality industry is particularly meaningful. “It shows that hidden gems, like myself, can shine just as brightly as those from more prominent backgrounds,” she says.
Denise’s journey highlights the impor- tance of diversity and inclusivity within the industry and proves that talent and leadership can always be found in unexpected places.
“My family is my support structure and allows me to do what I love to do,” says Denise. “By demonstrating what is possible through my own journey, I hope to instil in my three daughters the confidence and determination to pursue their dreams.”
A Beacon of Representation and Hope

Ilse Ruthford, managing director at Compagniesdrift, is a force to be reckoned with. For almost 20 years, she has been growing her career in Stellenbosch and is now a representative for farm workers and breast cancer survivors.
BORN AND RAISED in Pniël, small-town girl Ilse Ruthford sees herself as a people person. And this is true, for in everything she does and works for, she aims to be a proud representative of the people around her.
In 2006, Ilse started her journey as an export coordinator at Meerlust Wine Estate in Stellenbosch. The estate’s owner, the Myburgh Family Trust, established Compagniesdrift in 2010 to ensure meaningful and economically viable empowerment for the farm workers.
Ilse was soon selected to represent the workers as chairperson of the Meerlust Workers Trust (MWT) and then went on to become a director of MWT Investments Pty Ltd, a 50/50 partnership between the Myburgh Family Trust and MWT. As of 2012, Ilse has been part of the Compagniesdrift team as managing director.
“This year, Compagniesdrift will be celebrating its 14th anniversary,” says Ilse. “To see what we have achieved so far makes me proud. It motivates me to keep going and growing. We are one big family that works together, supports each other and strives to be better each year.”
Ilse often reminds others that Compagniesdrift was established to create a safe and happy environment for the farm workers and she aims to ensure that each worker reaches their full potential by receiving daily recognition and opportunities to better themselves. “We have many examples of staff members who started out as general workers and have gone on to become supervisors in the company,” says Ilse. “If openings arise, we always look at our current employees before we employ people from outside.”
Just four months before Compagniesdrift became wholly black-owned in 2019, Ilse was diagnosed with breast cancer. But this did not affect either her work ethic or her faith.
“I believe that God has chosen me to walk this journey with Him. It has not been easy, but the love, support and prayers of my family, friends and colleagues carried me during this time,” she says.
“I kept my faith. I didn’t see my illness as a battle, but rather a challenge that came my way.”
Ilse contributes a portion of Compagniesdrift’s Chardonnay Pinot Noir sales to the Breast Health Foundation to show continued support for the cause.
“I will always care deeptly about breast cancer. I am grateful that I can be a beacon of hope and inspiration to many,” she adds.
Stellenbosch’s Triathlete Supermom

Sport always helped Stellenbosch-based triathlete Vicky van der Merwe to cope while going through different phases of life. Today, this coping mechanism has earned her a spot in South Africa’s triathlon team for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
FROM SWIMMING in primary school to qualifying for the 2024 Paris Olympics, sport has carried Vicky van der Merwe through the past 25 years of her life. “In primary school I was mainly swimming. Then at Bloemhof Girls High School in Stellenbosch I competed in interschool athletics and was one of the top 10 runners in the school,” says Vicky. “I didn’t want to stop swimming and added cycling as well. So I’ve been doing triathlon since I was 15, and it’s really special to end that journey now with the Olympic games.”
Besides being a triathlete, Vicky is a business owner, wife and mother, which makes this time the busiest phase of her life. For her, being present in all of these roles is a balancing act.
“Being married, having a two-year-old, running a business – I’m the most productive and happiest I’ve ever been. I love the balance and perspective that brings,” she says. “I really try to be present in each role and to make every minute of the day count.”
Being a mother makes her participation in the 2024 Olympics extra special, as Vicky will be the only mom in the triathlon field. For her, this is a validation of her ethos.
“I’m trying to send the message that anything is possible if you really want it. And I want to encourage other moms to just make time for themselves,” says Vicky. “I think we,
as females and moms, always put ourselves last. So I’d like to encourage them to set their own goals. The happier you are, the better mom and wife you can be.”
Among the many lessons she has learnt in life, two stand out: life is not always fair, and you have to pick yourself up time after time. This mindset encouraged her to start her own business, Stellenbosch Triathlon Squad, which combines her passion with coaching.
“I started my business because of triathlon. That’s my passion,” says Vicky. “I love helping athletes and people of all levels to achieve their goals, push their boundaries and accomplish everything they thought wasn’t possible. Right now, she is focusing on being in the best shape possible for the 2024 Paris Olympics in order to represent South Africa, Stellenbosch and her Stellenbosch Triathlon Squad as well as she can. After the Olympics, Vicky’s focus will shift back to her business, to give back to the athletes and the community of Stellenbosch, and to take her passion and channel it into other people.
While triathlon has allowed Vicky to travel to more than 40 countries to represent South Africa, she remains thankful to the people of Stellenbosch. “The Stellenbosch community has played a big role in my life and given me such amazing support,” she says. “I hope to make everyone proud.”
Fuelled by Curiosity and Determination

Frank Bongoza, manager at Wijnhuis restaurant in Stellenbosch, proves that you can achieve anything if you put your mind to it – as long as you remain curious and willing to learn.
AFTER GROWING UP in the rural village of Idutywa in the Eastern Cape, Frank Bongoza moved to Cape Town in the 1990s to stay with his mother and pursue an education at Kayamandi Secondary School in Stellenbosch.
Raised by a single mother who was a domestic worker, Frank remembers how there was nothing his mother wouldn’t do for her four children and always wanted the best for him. This encouraged Frank to want the same.
“Growing up, I was always inquisitive and self-motivated, with a sense of curiosity and an eagerness to learn. I made self-improvement an anthem in my life,” says Frank. He started out as a general cleaner at Wijnhuis and has been part of the team since the very beginning.
After later becoming a waiter, he kept wanting to learn more, until what started out merely as a job to make ends meet, put food on the table and help his mother who was ill at the time, turned out to be one of the biggest success stories in town: Frank became manager at Wijnhuis.
He was given the opportunity to learn more about wine at the Cape Wine Academy, completed a barista training course and received in-house training from the Wijnhuis chefs. After all that, Frank knew that he was ready for something bigger.
“I think this willingness and desire to learn, and the opportunities the restaurant afforded me, brought me to where I am today,” he says. “I continue to learn from those who work alongside me every single day, which is truly a blessing.”
Looking back, Frank knew absolutely nothing about fine dining, as at the time his staple meals comprised traditional food, his favourite being pap, meat and vegetables. “Everything I learnt about the hospitality industry, I learnt here at Wijnhuis.”
Frank enjoys the fast-paced lifestyle that comes from working in the hospitality industry, and how it requires both consistency and precision, and his favourite part of the job is working with people and getting a taste of the various cultures and diversity the world has to offer. He’s not one to boast, but when asked about his biggest achievement so far he says that he is proud to have turned his life around.
“I went from living in a shack and trying to help my family to being the breadwinner and living in a house. I went from riding a bicycle to buying a car. But more importantly, I’m most proud of how I’ve been able to give my children the life I never had by putting them into good schools,” he says. “Although my mother is no longer here to see it all, I know she’s smiling down from heaven because this is all she ever wanted for me.” V