Inspiring good business at the 20th annual Top Empowerment Awards

19 Jul 2021

Running annually for the last 20 years, the 20th Top Empowerment Awards celebrated individuals and organisations that have excelled at transformation. In response to the global pandemic and as part of ongoing innovation, the conference and awards have pivoted to virtual, ensuring a wider global audience. The conference brought together experts in the field and charged conversations set to catalyse change. In lieu of Madiba Month, the awards provide recognition for outstanding strategies and practices that deliver a direct impact on business and innovations that set new standards across industries. "That is why we believe it is imperative to recognise the companies and individuals who are enacting meaningful change." - Topco Media CEO, Ralf Fletcher.

Finalists and winners at the Top Empowerment Awards had the opportunity to virtually network and celebrate their achievements. Winners were announced on the evening of 15 July 2021 at the star-studded awards ceremony.

Empowerment victories

Among some of the attendees were the likes of Mathews Phosa and Trevor Manuel. Mr Manuel accepted the acclaimed Lifetime Achievement Award, for selflessly demonstrating vision and leadership in empowerment and transformation.

Inspiring good business at the 20th annual Top Empowerment Awards

The esteemed list of category winners included:

Top Empowerment Youth Employment Service Initiative

"YES"

The Foschini Group

Top Empowered Business of the Year

Nedbank

Top Empowered Business Leader of the Year

Charmaine Mabuza – Ithuba Holdings

Top Empowered Enterprise and Supplier Development

Merchants SA

Top Empowered Socio-Economic Development

GrowthPoint Properties

Top Empowered Public Service

eThekwini Municipality

Top Empowered Company: Customer Focus

Cell C

Top Empowered Education and Skills Development

Provantage Media Group

Top Empowered Young Achiever

Vumile Msweli - Hesed Consulting

Top Empowered Job Creation

Bathu

Top Empowerment Company: Fast Growth Black-Owned SMME

Mbokodo Building

Top Empowered Entrepreneur Of 2021

Zakhele Mgobhozi – Modern Centric

The panel of acclaimed judges included:

Parmi Natesan, CEO at Institute of Directors
Thulani Nzima, chairperson at Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks
Mothunye Mothiba, CEO at Productivity SA
Khatu Ramukumba, vice principal of Unisa
Marelise Van Der Westhuizen, CEO at Norton Rose Fulbright
Vino Governder, CEO at LA Consulting Engineers
Nceba Ndzwayiba, group human resources and transformation Director at Netcare
Victor Sekese, CEO at SNG Grant Thornton

The list of empowered finalists:

Top Empowered Company: Socio-Economic Development

Adopt a School
AECI
Afgri Group Holdings
AfroCentric
Bonakude
BP South Africa
Coega Development Corporation
Distell
GrowthPoint Properties
Provantage Media Group
Spring Lights Gas
Wartsila SA

Top Empowered Company: Enterprise and Supplier Development

Discovery
Distell
Honeywell
Merchants SA
MultiChoice
Tsebo Solutions Group
Tshimologo Executive Group
Turner and Townsend

Top Empowered Company: Education and Skills Development

Adopt a School
Good Work Foundation
Provantage Media Group
Tsebo Solutions Group
University of Freestate

Top Empowered Company: Customer Focus

Bathu
BP South Africa
CallForce
Career Box
Cell C
FedEx SA
Spring Lights Gas

Top Empowered Young Achiever

Dineo Motikoe – Nubian Browny
Emmanuel Bonoko – Ebonoko Holdings
Jumien Peceur – AMIS
Lettie Mashau - Motheo Construction
Mampho Sotshongaye – Golden Rewards
Marumo Marumo – Maru Corporation
Thandeka Nombanjiji-Nzama – Mbokodo Building
Vumile Msweli – Hesed Consulting
Zanele Lorraine Stole – Immaculate Cleaning

Top Empowered Company: Fast Track Black-Owned SMME

Golden Rewards
MaruCorporation
Mbokodo Building
Modern Centric

Top Empowered Company: Public Services

Coega Development Corporation
eThekwini Municipality
Gautrain Management Agency
South African Civil Aviation

Top Empowered Company: Business Leader

Charmaine Mabuza – Ithuba Lottery
Dr Ayanda Vilakazi – Coega Development Corporation
Feroza Cassim – Wartsila SA
Raksha Naidoo – AMIS
Rebecca Mosehle – Liquid Telecom
Sydwell Shikweni – Merchants SA
Taelo Mojapelo BP South Africa
Theo Baloyi – Bathu
Viwe Mgedezi – Gautrain Management Agency

Top Entrepreneur of 2021

Thandeka Nombanjiji-Nzama – Mbokodo Building
Theo Baloyi – Bathu
Tshegetsang Sebeela – Tshimologo Executive Group
Zakhele Mgobhozi – Modern Centric
Zanele Lorraine Stole – Immaculate Cleaning

Top Empowered Company: Job Creation

Bathu
CallForce
CCI South Africa
Coega Development Corporation
Turner and Townsend

Top Empowered Company: YES

Career Box
Discovery
The Foschini Group

Top Empowered Business of the Year

Adenco Construction
African Oxygen
AfroCentric Investment Corporation
Bathu
FedEx Express
Isilumko Staffing
Ithuba Lottery
Motheo Construction
Multichoice
Nedbank
Wilson Bayly Holmes Ovcon (WBHO)

A message of hope

On the evening of the awards, Dr Mathews Phosa gave a moving speech where he urged South Africans to take decisive action to combat the current issues faced by the country. Dr Phosa reiterated that having respect for one another is imperative on the road to prosperity.

Over the last two decades, the event has created a legacy of inspiration for the country's business elite, giving SA the opportunity to honour leaders, individuals and organisations who exemplify transformation and empowerment.

DYNAMIC BUSINESS-TO-BUSINESS COMMUNICATIONS MEDIA Topco Media is one of South Africa's leading business-to-business media houses, producing high profile, relevant conferences and awards. Our conferences include Africa Tech Week, Standard Bank Top Women, Top Empowerment, Future of HR, National Business Awards and Future of Sustainability. We also produce authoritative and informative business and investment publications such as Top 500, Top Empowerment, Nelson Mandela 100 years to name a few.