Johannesburg, 10 November 2023: Mining leads the way for South Africa’s top companies at the annual Sunday Times Top 100 Companies Awards that were held in Johannesburg on 10 November in Parktown. Gold Fields Ltd (GFI.JSE) emerged as the leader, followed by DRDGold Ltd (DRD.JSE) and Impala Platinum Holdings (IMP.JSE) respectively.

For the fifth consecutive year, BCX took on the role of headline partner at the prestigious Sunday Times Top 100 Companies Awards, a prominent event on the South African business calendar. The gala dinner, hosted by Gugulethu Mfuphi, featured opening remarks from Sunday Times editor, S’thembiso Msomi and BCX CEO, Jonas Bogoshi. Additionally, the evening included a keynote address from the internationally renowned educational futurist, Raya Bidshahri.

“It is an honour to once again be partnering with BCX on the Top 100 Companies Awards. Their support has been instrumental in recognising and celebrating the achievements of South African businesses. Each year the results inspire a new wave of innovation and excellence across industries”, said S’thembiso Msomi.

To be eligible for recognition in the Sunday Times Top 100 Companies, JSE-listed firms must maintain a minimum market capitalisation of R5 billion as of August 31, 2023. The winners are determined based on the highest returns for their shareholders over a five-year period, assuming a theoretical initial investment of R10,000.

Gold Fields’s 5-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 50,35% for the period from 1 September 2018 to 31 August 2023, means that R10,000 invested in 2018 would have delivered R76 827 in 2023.

In the same 5-year period, DRD Gold saw a CAGR of 49,16% and delivered a return of R73 843, while Impala Platinum returned R71 022, with a CAGR of 48,01%.

Leadership Awards

The event also recognised the Business Leader of the Year, an award that acknowledges those who have made a significant contribution to the South African economy. It is decided by CEOs of the Sunday Times Top 100 Companies from the previous year.

This year’s Business Leadership Award recipient is Mpumi Madisa, the first woman CEO of Bidvest Group. Madisa joins an elite list of former recipients including Andrew Kirby, Adrian Gore, Michael Brown, Lesetja Kganyago, Pravin Gordhan, Dr Johan van Zyl, Dr Michael Jordaan, Gerrie Fourie, and Phuthuma Nhleko, amongst others.

Dr Whitey Basson, the former Managing Director, and Chief Executive of the largest food retailer in Africa, Shoprite Holdings Ltd, was this year’s recipient of the Lifetime Achiever Award. He was honoured for his achievements as a titan of South African business, committed to the success of the country and its people. Basson will join the likes of Gloria Serobe, Patrice Motsepe, Dr Richard Maponya, Adrian Gore, Dr Johann Rupert, Allan Gray, Raymond Ackerman, and Former President Nelson Mandela as previous recipients of the Sunday Times Top 100 Companies Lifetime Achiever Award. The award is decided by a high-profile independent panel, recognising an individual who consistently contributes to the South African economy.

Celebrating Digital Innovation

The winners of the fifth BCX Digital Innovation Awards were also announced at the Sunday Times Top 100 Companies Awards event.The BCX Digital Innovation Awards (DIA) celebrates not just innovation but extraordinary innovation that has the power to transform businesses, and industries and to reshape our future.

The three categories include the Corporate and Public Sectors, and Small and Medium Enterprise.

The winners in each category are:

Public Sector:

  • Best in Society: The Joburg Public Library has created a mobile eLearning platform to increase reading skills and literacy.
  • Best in Technology: eThekwini created a data hub for digitisation, automation, and data visualisation, improving the city’s operational efficiencies while improving service delivery to citizens.
  • Best Overall: SARS has improved its services with an auto-assessment for personal income tax.

Corporate Sector:

  • Best in Technology: ABSA (Customer Engagement) presents Data Analytics Predictive Modelling, a cutting-edge approach to hyper-personalised offers for customers, improving customer engagement and experience.
  • Best in Society and Sustainability: Afrika Tikkun has created a free-to-use online learning platform, offering internationally recognised Microsoft certifications through a low-bandwidth data consumption model.
  • Best Overall: Netcare Heal has improved their records management with an electronic medical record system.

SME Sector:

  • Best in Society and Sustainability: CareConnect Health Information Exchange is enhancing healthcare through a digitally enabled healthcare system through the Health Information Exchange.
  • Best in Technology: Momint leverages blockchain technology for Crowd-sourcing investments in solar power.
  • Best Overall: Medsol AI Solutions developed a tool for the AI detection of breast cancer through wireless ultrasound probes in rural South Africa.

“Since 2019 the Digital Innovation category has grown significantly and it is incredible to see so many South African organisations showcasing such excellence in the digital space. It is important that we keep celebrating and supporting this kind of innovation in our country”, said BCX CEO, Jonas Bogoshi.

The results will be published in the print and online editions of the Sunday Times on 10 November 2023.