Presidents and pioneers honoured at the National Business Awards

National Business Awards 2016 winners

The Awards took place at Emperors Palace in Johannesburg. Over the past 13 years, the National Business Awards has celebrated - in association with the publication Top Performing Companies - South Africa's most inspiring and dynamic companies and organisations, across various industry sectors.

Employment services and activations company, Isilumko Staffing Solutions, took home the Customer Focus Award as well as the Diversity in the Workplace Award. Security and construction company, Calvin and Family Group, sped off with the Fast Growth Award - the company has grown tremendously; branching out into commercial, civil and retail development, and more recently into low-cost housing, schools, stadiums, water and sanitation. Adding to the Fast Growth Award, Calvin Mathibeli, Founder of the Calvin and Family Group, was announced as the Top Young Executive of the Year sponsored by TUMI.

National Business Awards winners are acknowledged on the basis of innovative business practices, product development, enterprise, sustainability and the overall success of the business. In addition, they are recognised for their social and environmental contributions through excellence of service, commitment to customers, ethical behaviour and environmental sustainability. Topco Media CEO, Ralf Fletcher, congratulated the winners and finalists and encouraged the spirit of entrepreneurship: "To stand out in today's business environment, you have to be able to do what you do differently from your competitors. You must have a ground-breaking, innovative modus operandi" He spoke, also, of the importance of knowing your purpose, to sustain success: "it is the motivation behind every single thing you do. It's the reason why you started doing what you do in the first place, and the reason you'll do it tomorrow, next year and for as long as you are humanly capable".

McKinsey & Company are at the forefront of their sector as transformation champions, and implement skills development programmes within their organisation. The company walked away with top honours last night, when they were announced as the National Business of Year. Previous winners of this accolade include EOH Holdings, Woolworths, Kelly Group and Kumba Iron Ore.

Keynote speaker and Minister in the Presidency of South Africa, Jeff Radebe; the Honourable Baleka Mbete; Dr Mathews Phosa; Asher Bohbot and Bonang Mohale, amongst many other leaders, joined in to celebrate the finalists and winners. Billion Group, Liberty Corporate, National School of Government are some of the big names who partnered with the National Business Awards.

The highlight of the evening saw President Thabo Mbeki, former President of the Republic of South Africa, being awarded the highly esteemed Lifetime Achievement Award sponsored by Public Sector Manager, for his many contributions to bettering our nation during and after his nine years as the second post-apartheid President of South Africa.

Full winners list