How Barloworld Grew from Blankets to Caterpillar and Went Private
How Ernest and Punch Barlow built a South African industrial group, why Caterpillar mattered, and how Entsha and Zahid took Barloworld private in 2026.
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The people and events shaping South Africa
News, profiles, company histories and reference articles from South African Index.
Company builders
Who Founded Capitec?
Capitec Bank was established in 2001. Michiel le Roux served as its founding chief executive, while Riaan Stassen became the key builder of the bank’s early operating model and growth.
Who Founded Shoprite — and Who Built It?
Shoprite’s modern growth story began with the acquisition of an existing eight-store chain in 1979. Whitey Basson did not create those original stores, but he led the group from 1979 and built it through expansion and acquisitions.
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Mark Shuttleworth
South African technology entrepreneur who founded Thawte and Canonical and initiated Ubuntu.