AWARD WINNERS 2017
HONORARY AWARD: LEGENDS OF EMPOWERMENT
Bidvest Group
Aspen
South African Breweries
Vodacom
Nedbank
Old Mutual Life Assurance
Liberty Holdings
Alexander Forbes Group Holdings
MMI Holdings
Basil Read
Group Five
FAST GROWTH BLACK-OWNED SMME AWARD: CALVIN AND FAMILY GROUP
Calvin and Family Group was established in 2005 and is a trailblazer in the development and construction industry; specialising in residential developments as well as commercial, retail & industrial projects, low cost housing and schools. You’ll also see the Calvin name in many other market spheres. Well done to Calvin – AND family.
TOP EMPOWERED DIVERSITY AWARD: ISILUMKO STAFFING
Isilumko, whose name means “The wise”, has two divisions: Isilumko Staffing and Isilumko Media. The company was founded in 1992 and has an established national infrastructure in all major business centres. The company’s high-quality human capital is driven by an entrepreneurial culture placing a premium on innovation.
TOP EMPOWERED: SKILLS DEVELOPMENT AWARD: DIGITAL GENERATION
Digital Generation provides innovative value-added solutions for companies of all sizes,and is a partner to all major tech brands.Under the B-BBEE Codes of Good Practice, DG is defined as Level 2 Black Women Owned: clients receive as many as 18 points by procuring from DG…well done, Digital Generation, on pressing all the right buttons for top empowerment!
TOP EMPOWERED: ENTERPRISE & SUPPLIER DEVELOPMENT AWARD:
MULTICHOICE SOUTH AFRICA HOLDINGS
Multichoice South Africa Holdings operates as a holding company that, through its subsidiaries, provides digital satellite television services, including mobile television. Multichoice offers a multitude of content: the latest movies, lifestyle and culture, sport, documentaries, news and more. Well done Multichoice – the judges made their choice.
TOP EMPOWERED: SOCIOECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AWARD: VOLKSWAGEN SOUTH AFRICA
Established 71 years ago and 3 years younger than President Zuma, Volkswagen Group South Africa is a wholly owned subsidiary of Volkswagen Aktiengessellschaft (VWAG) in Germany. For generations, VW has been a transformation leader – and a driver for job creation and skills development. Well done VW – the people’s favourite.
TOP EMPOWERED PUBLIC SERVICE AWARD: SOUTH AFRICAN CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY
SPONSORED BY ARMS AUDIT 
Also shortened to ‘SACAA’, for those about to share the news on Twitter, this body regulates civil aviation safety and security – and furthers sustainable development of the industry. Thanks for keeping us all safe, SACAA – and for piloting transformation to new heights.
TOP EMPOWERED JOB CREATION AWARD: ISILUMKO STAFFING
Isilumko comprises of Isilumko Staffing and Isilumko Media, and offers flexible staffing services and solutions to satisfy the needs of diverse clients around the country. Isilumko, you are a transformation champion – your second trophy for 2017!
TOP EMPOWERED ENTREPRENEUR OF 2017 AWARD: CONNIE MDLADLA – KHAAS LOGISTICS
This Wits alumnus took a leap of faith in 2008 to start her own freight forwarding and logistics brokerage services firm. In a tough industry, she kept punching above her weight and her acclaim grew. Today, Khaas Logistics commands powerhouse status and continues to uphold the vision and conviction of our Entrepreneur of the Year.
TOP EMPOWERED: PUBLIC SERVICE LEADER OF THE YEAR AWARD:
MOTHOBI EDWARD MOTHOBI – NORTH WEST PARKS BOARD
SPONSORED BY PUBLIC SECTOR MANAGER 
CEO of the North West Parks Board, Mothobi Edward Mothobi, is the man driving its vision for a growing economy that creates jobs, alleviates poverty and protects the environment. Through his commitment, Mothobi is uplifting the people of that beautiful province; while also making sure it stays beautiful through effective sustainable tourism.
TOP EMPOWERED YOUNG ACHIEVER UNDER 40 YEARS AWARD:
BRODWEN KOEN – KOEN & ASSOCIATES ARCHITECTURE
Brodwen’s remarkable rise to success was fueled by his thirst to tackle multifaceted complex architectural projects, which saw him thrive at a number of acclaimed firms,
before building his own successful company from one person in 2011, to 12 today. Brodwen, you can only build on your achievements going forward. Well done!
TOP EMPOWERED: BUSINESS LEADER OF THE YEAR AWARD:
KHALID ABDULLA – AFRICAN EQUITY EMPOWERMENT INVESTMENTS
Khalid Abdulla is CEO of African Equity Empowerment Investments Limited and has been with the Group since 1999. He has over 25 years’ experience related to healthcare, technology, financial services, events and tourism. A regular participant at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Khalid has graced our empowerment stage before – as a finalist in our 2015 awards.
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: DEPUTY PRESIDENT MATAMELA CYRIL RAMAPHOSA
Black female owned and Level 1 B-B BEE Accredited, Travel with Flair combines astute strategy and exceptional service to deliver a fast and versatile service to clients. With over 18 years in the industry, 17 branches and a team of over 750, Travel with Flair can proudly add another award to its string of accolades.
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: DEPUTY PRESIDENT MATAMELA CYRIL RAMAPHOSA
In honour of a renowned businessperson, activist, and trade union leader. Respected as a skillful negotiator and strategist, he built up the most powerful trade union in South Africa – the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) – and, during a pivotal phase during a time of turbulence and uncertainty, played a crucial role in helping to steer our country peacefully out of the darkness of apartheid. For that noble accomplishment and for his many since the dawn of democracy, we are proud to applaud this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award Winner.
AWARDS CATEGORIES
Top Empowered Fast Growth Black-Owned SMME Award
Annual revenue must be R5 to R35 million. The award is open to SMMEs with a positive year-on year turnover growth of 20% in the last financial year. You must have been operational for more than two years with a Level 1 – 4 scorecard, or 50.1% black ownership. You should be able to demonstrate strong commitment to the seven pillars of empowerment.
Top Empowered SED Award
Annual revenue must exceed R35 million. The award winner will have improved the living conditions of disadvantaged black communities, with an emphasis on rural development. You need to be able to demonstrate the effect of your SED efforts; both on community upliftment and organisational performance.
Top Empowered Enterprise and Supplier Development Award
Annual revenue must exceed R35 million. As with the SED Award, this award will go to an organisation that has improved the living conditions of disadvantaged black communities, with an emphasis on rural development.The judges will be looking for organisations that can clearly and effectively demonstrate the success of their efforts.
Top Empowered Diversity Award
Annual revenue must exceed R35 million. The award will go to an organisation that demonstrates strong commitment to raising awareness of equality and diversity issues, from both an employment and service provision aspect. This commitment needs to be supported by organisational initiatives, policies and practices that create a diverse and inclusive workforce.
Top Empowered Job Creation Award
Annual revenue must exceed R35 million. The winner will have contributed positively toward the alleviation of poverty in South Africa, through the sustainable creation of meaningful employment. Entrants must outline how they have provided eligible participants with meaningful work experience that demonstratively improves their employment prospects.
Top Empowered Skills Development Award
Annual revenue must exceed R1 billion. The award recognises intensive learnerships and skills programmes that support,
for example, youth development. Entrants for this award should invest 2% of their payroll on skills development for black employees and demonstrate sustainable skills development programmes or policies with successful outcomes.
Top Empowered Entrepreneur of 2017 Award
Your organisation’s annual revenue must exceed 10 million.The award will go to a visionary leader demonstrating excellence and drive in their field. To enter this category, your organisation must employ more than five people and have been operational for more than two years. It should also show significant year-on-year growth.
Top Empowered Business Leader of the Year Award
Your organisation’s annual revenue must exceed R35 million. The winner will be able to demonstrate how he/she has successfully implemented and driven the strategies of B-BBEE within enterprise development, socio-economic development, skills development, and employment equity.
Top Empowered Young Achiever Award
Your organisation’s annual revenue must exceed R35 million.This award highlights the outstanding achievements of a young black executive, under the age of 40 years, who can clearly and effectively demonstrate an outstanding contribution to their organisation’s success and performance through innovative strategies and solutions.
Top Empowered Public Service Award
This award honours national or provincial government departments, parastatals or agencies that effectively demonstrate the highest level of black economic empowerment, from staff to suppliers, through programmes and policies. An important factor is measurable and accountable leadership committed to developing previously-disadvantaged individuals through programmes and policies..
Top Empowered Public Service Leader of the Year Award
This award recognises public service leaders in national, provincial or local government departments, parastatals or agencies, who have achieved outstanding results in the last year; through financial management, environmental and sustainable development, meeting targets, positive contributions to the economy, and innovation in fulfilling their service delivery mandate. Individuals under administration will not be eligible to enter.
Top Empowered Business of the Year Award
Annual revenue must exceed R100 million. The award will go to an organisation that best demonstrates excellence in all spheres of the general criteria and seven pillars of empowerment. An improvement in financial performance and the organisation’s empowerment status will hold a high weighting for the Judges. Organisations in this category must hold a Level 1, 2 or 3 BEE scorecard.
Lifetime Achievement Award
This prestigious award, the highlight of the evening, will honour an individual who has contributed in a profound way to black economic empowerment during the course of his or her career. Nominations for this award will also include those put forward by the Topco Media editorial team and the panel of external Judges.Previous recipients Previous recipients include President Thabo Mbeki, former President of the Republic of South Africa and Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan,, to name but two.
Top Empowered Fast Growth Black-Owned SMME Award
Annual revenue must be R5 to R35 million. The award is open to SMMEs with a positive year-on year turnover growth of 20% in the last financial year. You must have been operational for more than two years with a Level 1 – 4 scorecard, or 50.1% black ownership. You should be able to demonstrate strong commitment to the seven pillars of empowerment.
Top Empowered SED Award
Annual revenue must exceed R35 million. The award winner will have improved the living conditions of disadvantaged black communities, with an emphasis on rural development. You need to be able to demonstrate the effect of your SED efforts; both on community upliftment and organisational performance.
Top Empowered Enterprise and Supplier Development Award
Annual revenue must exceed R35 million. As with the SED Award, this award will go to an organisation that has improved the living conditions of disadvantaged black communities, with an emphasis on rural development.The judges will be looking for organisations that can clearly and effectively demonstrate the success of their efforts.
Top Empowered Diversity Award
Annual revenue must exceed R35 million. The award will go to an organisation that demonstrates strong commitment to raising awareness of equality and diversity issues, from both an employment and service provision aspect. This commitment needs to be supported by organisational initiatives, policies and practices that create a diverse and inclusive workforce.
Top Empowered Job Creation Award
Annual revenue must exceed R35 million. The winner will have contributed positively toward the alleviation of poverty in South Africa, through the sustainable creation of meaningful employment. Entrants must outline how they have provided eligible participants with meaningful work experience that demonstratively improves their employment prospects.
Top Empowered Skills Development Award
Annual revenue must exceed R1 billion. The award recognises intensive learnerships and skills programmes that support,
for example, youth development. Entrants for this award should invest 2% of their payroll on skills development for black employees and demonstrate sustainable skills development programmes or policies with successful outcomes.
Top Empowered Entrepreneur of 2017 Award
Your organisation’s annual revenue must exceed 10 million.The award will go to a visionary leader demonstrating excellence and drive in their field. To enter this category, your organisation must employ more than five people and have been operational for more than two years. It should also show significant year-on-year growth.
Top Empowered Business Leader of the Year Award
Your organisation’s annual revenue must exceed R35 million. The winner will be able to demonstrate how he/she has successfully implemented and driven the strategies of B-BBEE within enterprise development, socio-economic development, skills development, and employment equity.
Top Empowered Young Achiever Award
Your organisation’s annual revenue must exceed R35 million.This award highlights the outstanding achievements of a young black executive, under the age of 40 years, who can clearly and effectively demonstrate an outstanding contribution to their organisation’s success and performance through innovative strategies and solutions.
Top Empowered Public Service Award
This award honours national or provincial government departments, parastatals or agencies that effectively demonstrate the highest level of black economic empowerment, from staff to suppliers, through programmes and policies. An important factor is measurable and accountable leadership committed to developing previously-disadvantaged individuals through programmes and policies..
Top Empowered Public Service Leader of the Year Award
This award recognises public service leaders in national, provincial or local government departments, parastatals or agencies, who have achieved outstanding results in the last year; through financial management, environmental and sustainable development, meeting targets, positive contributions to the economy, and innovation in fulfilling their service delivery mandate. Individuals under administration will not be eligible to enter.
Top Empowered Business of the Year Award
Annual revenue must exceed R100 million. The award will go to an organisation that best demonstrates excellence in all spheres of the general criteria and seven pillars of empowerment. An improvement in financial performance and the organisation’s empowerment status will hold a high weighting for the Judges. Organisations in this category must hold a Level 1, 2 or 3 BEE scorecard.
Lifetime Achievement Award
This prestigious award, the highlight of the evening, will honour an individual who has contributed in a profound way to black economic empowerment during the course of his or her career. Nominations for this award will also include those put forward by the Topco Media editorial team and the panel of external Judges.Previous recipients Previous recipients include President Thabo Mbeki, former President of the Republic of South Africa and Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan,, to name but two.
VIP SPEAKER
Dr Mathews Phosa
Attorney and Politician
Cover icon of this year’s Impumelelo: Top Empowerment Companies, attorney and one of South Africa’s leading business and political figures, Dr. Phosa will give an address on “The lessons we can learn from Oliver Tambo”; fitting in the year that marks 100 years since the birth of this revered activist, thought leader and namesake for the Oliver Top Empowerment Awards. During the early 1980s,
Dr Phosa was forced into exile, where he became the Regional Commander for Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK) the then military wing of the ANC. In his return to the country, he was appointed as the first Premier of the Mpumalanga Province in 1994.
Dr Phosa also served as ANC’s Treasurer General from 2007 – 2012. In addition to his political career, Dr Phosa has multiple business ventures where he sits on a number of listed/unlisted company boards. With numerous other accolades behind him, in 2013, he was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to transformation and empowerment at the 12th Oliver Top Empowerment Awards.
Awards Judges
Barlow Manilal
CEO, Technology Innovation Agency
Abbas Jamie
Director, Innovation & Transformation, Africa, Aurecon
Mothunye Mothiba
CEO Productivity SA
Sifiso Cele
HR Director, Barclays Africa
Molebatsi Moagi
Managing Director at Centre for Supplier Development
Sipho Zikode
Deputy Director-General, The Department of Trade and Industry
Maushami Chetty, Attorney
Entrepreneur and Change Catalyst, Maushamic
Edna Sathekga-Montse
Head: Inclusion & Diversity, RBB at Barclays
Xolani Qubeka
CEO Small Business Development Institute
Zinzi Mgolodela
Head of Transformation, Woolworths Holdings
Tollo Nkosi
CEO, Umso Construction
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The Benefits
- Engage with a host of blue-chip company CEOs, government officials, academic thought leaders and foreign investors under one roof, providing an unparalleled networking opportunity.
- Benefit from extensive brand exposure via both internal and external channels.Give your company top-of-mind awareness amongst the key decision makers driving South Africa’s economy.