"This is a stellar shortlist of the best performing companies in a tough South African economy," commented Shaun Battlemann, CEO of African Access Holdings. "Our vision is to uplift and empower all the people of South Africa. That mission is fostered by the inspiration afforded by role models who triumph against adversity.
"We see great inspirational value in the success of these companies and congratulate them on their status as finalists in South Africa's most prestigious business awards programme."
First round of judging to identify finalists was completed on Friday, May 27. The follow-up round on Friday, June 3, will decide the best of the best.
The identities of the 'Oscar' winners will remain a secret until all is revealed at the African Access National Business Awards gala awards dinner at Sandton Convention Centre on June 23.
Among the most keenly contested awards is that of The Top Performing Company of the Year. However, all the awards have taken on considerable cachet in view of their national scope and rigorous quality standards, noted Ralf Fletcher, CEO of Topco Media, publisher of Top Performing Companies, the authoritative business annual and vehicle for the awards programme.
Contenders on that shortlist of finalists are:
Atlas Copco SA (Pty) Ltd
General Motors South Africa (Pty) Ltd
Imperial Logistics
Kumba Iron Ore Ltd
McDonald's South Africa
MultiChoice Africa (Pty) Ltd
Pfizer Laboratories (Pty) Ltd
Prestige Cleaning Services (Pty) Ltd
Smit Amandla Marine (Pty) Ltd
Voltex (Pty) Ltd
ISA Holdings Ltd
Moneyweb Holdings Ltd
OneLogix Group Ltd
Paladin Capital Ltd
Rolfes Technology Holdings Ltd
Vox Telecom Ltd
Bakers Transport (Pty) Ltd
Bigfoot Express (Pty) Ltd
Imperial Logistics
South African Post Office Ltd
Super Group Limited
Trenstar SA (Pty) Ltd
Accsys (Pty) Ltd
Business Connexion (Pty) Ltd
Cape Town International Convention Centre
Microsoft SA (Pty) Ltd
Nambiti Technologies (Pty) Ltd
Pfizer Laboratories (Pty) Ltd
Pick 'n Pay
Real People (Pty) Ltd
Voltex (Pty) Ltd
Boxer Superstores (Pty) Ltd
City Lodge Hotels Ltd
City of Joburg Property Company (Pty) Ltd
Igoda Projects (Pty) Ltd
Microsoft SA (Pty) Ltd
Nambiti Technologies (Pty) Ltd
PC Training and Business College (Pty) Ltd
Primi World (Pty) Ltd
Spring Lights Gas (Pty) Ltd
Voltex (Pty) Ltd
5FM
Aldes Business Brokers Franchise Africa (Pty) Ltd
Ampaglas Plastics Group
Boxer Superstores (Pty) Ltd
Business Connexion (Pty) Ltd
City Lodge Hotels Ltd
Kraft Foods South Africa (Pty) Ltd
Simmons S.A. (Pty) Ltd
B Braun Avitum (Pty) Ltd
City of Joburg Property Company (Pty) Ltd
Igoda Projects (Pty) Ltd
Kumba Iron Ore Ltd
Nambiti Technologies (Pty) Ltd
PC Training & Business College (Pty) Ltd
Capricorn FM
Consumer Goods Council of SA
Dakot Milling Media (Pty) Ltd
Mpilende Foods (Pty) Ltd
My Personal Trainer Wellness (Pty) Ltd
Waste Plan (Pty) Ltd
Zanusi Brand Solutions
Accsys (Pty) Ltd
Ampaglas Plastics Group
College of Cape Town
Ifihlile Training Academy KZN
PC Training & Business College (Pty) Ltd
South African Post Office Ltd
UCT Graduate School of Business
Ampaglas Plastics Group
KZN Oils (Pty) Ltd
Pfizer Laboratories (Pty) Ltd
Simmons S.A. (Pty) Ltd
Smit Amandla Marine (Pty) Ltd
Voltex (Pty) Ltd
WOA Fuels and Oils
Cape Town International Convention Centre
Imperial Logistics
Johannesburg City Parks
Kumba Iron Ore Ltd
Pick 'n Pay
Procter & Gamble SA (Pty) Ltd
Spring Lights Gas (Pty) Ltd
The Waste Group (Pty) Ltd
Western Cape Department of Health
Cape Town International Convention Centre
Johannesburg City Parks
Mangwanani
Thebe Exhibitions & Projects Group
EDC Womens Club
Khumo Social Club
Kliptown Helping Hands
Reyakopele Trading
Siwelil'Emzansi Stokvel Primary Co-operative
Sweet Harmony
Geoffrey Cooke - Johannesburg City Parks
Prof Keith Craig Househam - Western Cape Department of Health
Brett Levy - Blue Label Telecoms Ltd
Mark Levy - Blue Label Telecoms Ltd
Simphiwe Mdlalose - Capricorn FM
Asgar Mahomed - Esquire System Technology (Pty) Ltd
Rajendran Reddy - KZN Oils (Pty) Ltd
Tokoloho Letsunyane - Letsunyane Associates (Pty) Ltd
Gus Behn - Longspan Gutters cc
Ronald Abvajee - My Personal Trainer Wellness (Pty) Ltd
Egbert Lourens - Waste Plan (Pty) Ltd
Teryl Schroenn - Accsys (Pty) Ltd
Gin Bhana - Aldes Business Brokers Franchise Africa (Pty) Ltd
Gwen Gerber - CHM Vuwani Computer Solutions (Pty) Ltd
Helen Botes - City of Joburg Property Company (Pty) Ltd
Ria Ivy Ledwaba - Ifihlile Training Academy KZN
Carol Weaving - Thebe Exhibitions & Projects Group
Scott Farrell - B Braun Avitum (Pty) Ltd
Andrew Mills - Boxer Superstores (Pty) Ltd
Chris Griffith - Kumba Iron Ore Ltd
Iqbal Bam - Simmons S.A. (Pty) Ltd
Dirk van Niekerk - The Waste Group (Pty) Ltd
Johannesburg City Parks
Pan South African Language Board
South African Post Office Ltd
Lifetime Achievement Award
Top Performing Company of the Year Award
"Recognition for superior performance in the business arena has significance that extends way beyond the limelight on awards night," said Ralf Fletcher. "Economic growth is the fuel that drives our democracy and sustains the aspirations of 50 million South Africans.
"Our major sponsor, the investment company African Access, makes this commitment because it seeks a successful, sustainable and economically liberated South Africa for all. Encouragement of superior business performance via the African Access National Business Awards is obviously important in the realization of that goal.
"This also explains the participation of entrants from across the commercial spectrum. They are looking for something more than plaudits from their peers and the media. They seek independent confirmation that they are achieving their strategic objectives and contributing to the national vision of a strong and prosperous South Africa that creates opportunities for all."
In addition to African Access, the awards are supported by category sponsors Mutual & Federal, Kintetsu World Express, South African Tourism and Airports Company South Africa.
Official media partners Business Report and SAfm will be interviewing finalists, judges and sponsors on air during the run-up to the awards.
Big media interest is also anticipated on awards night in view of the presence of numerous big-name business personalities. On the A-list of attendees are: Jimmy Manyi (President of Black Management Forum), Ms Tembakazi Mnyaka (Deputy President of the Black Management Forum), Dumisani Radebe (General Manager of Direct Sales at BMW South Africa) and Xolile George (CEO of the South African Local Government Association).
Guest speaker on the big night is Chris Griffith, CEO of Kumba Iron Ore.