We can tell you a lot about our little enterprise and what we do. But rather google to Soekershof to find out via diverse angles or for a brief overview Soekershof Website

We are dealing with 2 issues:

1) Soekershof is located in the Klaas Voogds area in the Robertson Wine Valley; one of the main wine producing areas in South Africa. There are some high quality wines but also the FAS-percentage in the Robertson Wine Valley is high. (FAS = Fetal Alcohol Syndrome). An estimate of a representive of the local municipality is "around 70 percent"; equally divided between the different cultures. Although even some wine cellars are really doing their best to battle with this issue it's like fighting a landslide with your bare hands. Diverse initiatives are undertaken with more, less but mainly no success.
As employer we are continuously confronted with lies, half truths and silly excuses of FAS-effected staff. Last year this resulted in the dismissal of staff that had been working here several years and in whom we invested a lot of time and money in diverse (training) programs but seemingly without result. At this stage half of the staff is FAS-effected and to keep these employees a little bit under control we sometimes have to be very harsh to them and that is against our culture of open and flat communication regardless cultural backgrounds etc.

2) Soekershof will never be a mainstream attraction and we do not intend to grow into a tourist trap. On the other hand profits have to be generated in order to survive. Most South Africans know Robertson as a wine producing area and what more: "Free wine tasting". Of other activities in Robertson and surrounds most people have never heard. With other words; the region as a total all in tourist destination is very much undermarketed. The local tourism bureau is situated in the building of the Wine Trust, etc. It's with other words subsidised to promote wine cellars and their accommodating members. It's also the reason we are not a member (anymore); why putting annualy 800 Rand in an organisation that does not promote everything? As non-wine producing and not locally owned entity we are fully on our own in promoting ourselves and with us this beautiful valley as a destination with unexpected surprises. (google: Soekershof things to do in Robertson). But alone it's difficult. An initiative of the Boland Districts Council to promote 'other things to do' stranded because of non-co-operation ....

If there is anyone out there who can provide us with sound advice we'll be very gratefull!