Business · Living
Adrian Gore
Business founder and executive
Founder and Group Chief Executive of Discovery, the South African financial services group.
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People
Browse published biographies by name, field and status.
102 published profiles
Business · Living
Alan Knott-Craig
Telecommunications executive
South African telecommunications executive who led Vodacom’s founding management team and its expansion before the 2009 listing.
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Photo: Spur Corporation · Copyright Spur Corporation, editorial use only, cropped and resized · SourceBusiness · Living
Allen Ambor
Restaurant founder and company builder
Founder of Spur Steak Ranches and the executive who led its first five decades.
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Business · Living
Anthony Thunström
Retail executive
Chief executive of TFG, the listed South African fashion and lifestyle retail group.
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Business · Historical
Anton Rupert
Industrialist and conservationist
South African industrialist, Rembrandt founder and conservationist whose business forms part of the origins of Remgro and Richemont.
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Business · Living
Barry Swartzberg
Actuary, business co-founder and executive
South African actuary and Discovery co-founder who built early operating functions, led its health business and developed international expansion.
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Business · Living
Bernard Berson
Foodservice executive
Bidcorp chief executive who helped build Bidvest’s international foodservice operations and led the business after its separate listing in 2016.
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Business · Living
Bernard Kantor
Banker and company builder
South African banker and early Investec company builder who led important United Kingdom expansion.
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Business · Living
Bertina Engelbrecht
Lawyer and retail executive
South African lawyer and executive who became Clicks Group chief executive in January 2022.
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Bill Venter
Engineer, entrepreneur and company founder
Telecommunications engineer who founded the business that became Altron in 1965.
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Business · Living
Brian Joffe
Entrepreneur and executive
South African entrepreneur who founded the business that became Bidvest in 1988 and led the group for decades.
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Sport · Living
Bryan Habana
Former rugby union player
South African rugby wing, 2007 Rugby World Cup winner and former World Rugby Player of the Year.
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Public life · Historical
Captain Allen Francis Gardiner
Missionary, civic founder and Royal Navy officer
British naval officer, missionary, explorer and one of the principal civic founders of Durban.
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Sport · Living
Caster Semenya
Middle-distance runner
South African middle-distance runner and two-time Olympic 800-metre champion.
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Science · Historical
Chabani Manganyi
Psychologist, author and higher-education leader
South African psychologist, author and higher-education leader whose work examined Black identity, violence and the psychological effects of apartheid.
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Business · Historical
Charles Glass
Brewer and founder
Brewer credited with Castle Lager and the 1895 founding story of South African Breweries.
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Arts · Living
D.B.Z. Ntuli
Author, translator and academic
South African isiZulu author, translator and emeritus professor of African languages.
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Photo: Famous Brands · Copyright Famous Brands, editorial use only, cropped and converted to WebP · SourceBusiness · Living
Darren Hele
Restaurant group executive
Chief executive of Famous Brands since 1 March 2016.
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Public life · Historical
Desmond Tutu
Anglican bishop and peace advocate
South African Anglican archbishop, 1984 Nobel Peace Prize laureate and chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
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Dominic Sewela
Industrial executive
Barloworld group chief executive and the executive associated with Entsha’s majority stake in the acquisition vehicle.
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Public life · Living
Edwin Cameron
Jurist and former Constitutional Court justice
South African jurist and former Constitutional Court justice whose public work has included human-rights and HIV advocacy.
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Ernest Barlow
Merchant and company founder
Founder of Thomas Barlow & Sons, the Durban agency that became Barloworld.
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Business · Historical
Errol Grolman
Investor and company builder
South African business builder and one of the three original founders named by Investec.
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Arts · Living
Esther Mahlangu
Visual artist
South African visual artist known for adapting Ndebele geometric painting to contemporary and international art contexts.
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Business · Historical
Etienne Rousseau
Chemical engineer and founding managing director
South African chemical engineer, first Sasol employee and founding managing director who led the company’s initial industrial development.
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Business · Living
Fani Titi
Banker and group chief executive
South African banker and company builder who has served as Investec group chief executive since March 2020.
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Sport · Living
Gary Player
Professional golfer
South African professional golfer who won nine major championships and completed the modern career Grand Slam.
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George Halamandres
Restaurant founder and company builder
South African restaurant founder who developed the ventures behind Steers and Famous Brands.
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Business · Historical
George Ivan Rosenthal
Retail founder
American founder of Foschini, the South African fashion retailer from which TFG developed.
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Business · Living
Gerrie Fourie
Banker and non-executive director
South African banker who served as Capitec group chief executive from January 2014 to July 2025.
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Business · Living
Graham Lee
Banker and chief executive
South African banker who became Capitec group chief executive on 19 July 2025.
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Business · Historical
Graham Mackay
Brewing executive and company builder
South African executive who led SAB’s transformation into the international brewer SABMiller.
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Photo: Rand Merchant Insurance Holdings / Forbes · Copyright retained by the credited source. Rights review pending. No open reuse licence asserted. · SourceBusiness · Living
GT Ferreira
Banker and entrepreneur
South African banker and entrepreneur who co-founded the business that became Rand Merchant Bank and later chaired FirstRand.
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Photo: Aspen Pharmacare; photographer not credited · Copyright Aspen Pharmacare. Rights review pending. No open reuse licence asserted. · SourceBusiness · Living
Gus Attridge
Company founder and financial executive
Aspen founding member, former deputy group chief executive and finance director, and later Group Chief Advisor.
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Photo: OUTsurance / supplied to Business Day · Copyright status unconfirmed; editorial use only · SourceBusiness · Living
Howard Aron
Insurance founder and former executive
South African insurance founder who helped establish OUTsurance and Youi, then served in joint executive leadership roles.
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Arts · Historical
Hugh Masekela
Musician, composer and singer
South African trumpeter, flugelhornist, composer and singer whose career joined music with anti-apartheid cultural activism.
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Business · Living
Ian Kantor
Engineer, banker and company builder
South African engineer and business builder who started the leasing company that became Investec.
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Public affairs · Living
Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma
Radio personality and civic activist
Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma is a South African radio personality and founder of March & March, a civic movement campaigning on immigration enforcement and citizen access to services.
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Business · Historical
Jack Goldin
Retail entrepreneur
South African retailer who founded Clicks in Cape Town in 1968 and conceived it as a drugstore.
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Photo: Christopher Murphy / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0, cropped and converted to WebP · SourceBusiness · Historical
Jacob Frankel
Food manufacturer and company founder
Founder of the Newtown oats business that developed into Tiger Oats and Tiger Brands.
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Business · Living
Jannie Mouton
Investor and company builder
South African investor who co-founded PSG Group and supplied early backing to Capitec.
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Sport · Living
Jody Scheckter
Formula One racing driver and world champion
South African racing driver who won the 1979 Formula One World Drivers’ Championship with Ferrari.
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Business · Living
Johann Rupert
Business founder and chairman
Founder and chairman of Richemont, with leadership roles at Remgro and Reinet Investments Manager.
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Photo: William Howard Schroder / Cape Town Chamber of Commerce · Public domain — faithful reproduction of a public-domain painting · SourceBusiness · Historical
John Fairbairn
Newspaper proprietor, educator, politician and company founder
Scottish-born Cape newspaper proprietor, educator and politician who founded Old Mutual’s predecessor in 1845.
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Arts · Living
John Kani
Actor and playwright
South African actor and playwright associated with Sizwe Banzi Is Dead, The Island and the Market Theatre.
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Business · Historical
John Paterson
Entrepreneur, newspaperman and politician
Cape entrepreneur, newspaperman and politician who led the plan that created the historic Standard Bank.
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Arts · Living
Jonathan Butler
Singer, songwriter, guitarist and producer
South African singer, songwriter, guitarist and producer whose career spans jazz, R&B and gospel.
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Business · Living
Jurie Strydom
Actuary and financial-services executive
South African actuary and financial-services executive who became Old Mutual group chief executive in June 2025.
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Science · Living
Karen Sliwa-Hahnle
Cardiologist and professor
South African-based cardiologist and director of the University of Cape Town’s Cape Heart Institute.
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Science · Living
Keertan Dheda
Pulmonologist and professor
South African pulmonologist and tuberculosis researcher at the University of Cape Town.
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Business · Living
Kim Reid
Technology entrepreneur
South African entrepreneur who co-acquired Take2, founded Takealot in its 2011 form and led its first operating decade.
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Traditional leadership · Living
King Misuzulu kaZwelithini
King of the AmaZulu
King Misuzulu kaZwelithini is the recognised King of the AmaZulu and the sole trustee of the Ingonyama Trust.
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Business · Living
Koos Bekker
Media and technology executive
South African media and technology executive who led the founding team of M-Net/MultiChoice and later transformed Naspers as chief executive.
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Science · Living
Kubedi Mokhobo
Cardiologist and physician
South African cardiologist and medical pioneer whose career included clinical, academic and public-health leadership in southern Africa.
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Business · Living
Larry Nestadt
Investor and company builder
South African investor and one of the three original founders named in Investec’s official company history.
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Photo: Mr Price Group; photographer not credited · Copyright retained by source. Rights review pending. · SourceBusiness · Living
Laurie Chiappini
Retail founder
South African retailer who co-founded Mr Price with Stewart Cohen and opened the first Mr Price Factory Shop in 1985.
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Photo: Freddy Mavunda / Business Day · Copyright retained by the credited source. Rights review pending. No open reuse licence asserted. · SourceBusiness · Living
Laurie Dippenaar
Banker and entrepreneur
South African banker and entrepreneur who co-founded the business that became Rand Merchant Bank and later helped create FirstRand.
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Business · Living
Mark Lamberti
Company founder, executive and chair
South African company builder who led Makro and founded Massmart before serving as its non-executive chairman.
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Technology · Living
Mark Shuttleworth
Technology entrepreneur
South African technology entrepreneur who founded Thawte and Canonical and initiated Ubuntu.
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Business · Historical
Max Sonnenberg
Retail founder
Founder of the South African Woolworths retail business, which opened its first Cape Town store in 1931.
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Business · Living
Michiel le Roux
Banker and company founder
South African banker who served as Capitec Bank’s founding chief executive and later as chairman.
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Public life · Historical
Nelson Mandela
Political leader and president
South African anti-apartheid leader and president from 1994 to 1999.
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Media · Living
Ngizwe Mchunu
Broadcaster and public activist
Ngizwe Mchunu is a South African broadcaster, former Ukhozi FM presenter and public activist associated with Zulu cultural mobilisation.
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Business · Living
Patrice Motsepe
Business founder and football administrator
Founder and executive chairman of African Rainbow Minerals and president of the Confederation of African Football.
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Business · Living
Paul Hanratty
Actuary and insurance executive
Irish actuary and insurance executive who became Sanlam group chief executive in July 2020.
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Business · Living
Paul Harris
Banker and entrepreneur
South African banker and entrepreneur who co-founded the business that became Rand Merchant Bank and was part of FirstRand’s founding trio.
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Culture · Living
Phakelumthakathi Ndabandaba
Actor, amabutho leader and public activist
Phakelumthakathi, publicly known as Nkosikhona Ndabandaba, is a South African actor, amabutho leader and activist associated with Nongoma in KwaZulu-Natal.
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Business · Living
Phuthuma Nhleko
Business executive and company chairman
South African business leader who led MTN Group through its main African and Middle Eastern expansion phase from 2002 to 2011.
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Business · Living
Pieter Erasmus
Retail executive
South African retail executive and Pepkor Holdings chief executive since October 2022.
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Arts · Living
Pretty Yende
Opera singer
South African soprano who has performed leading roles at major opera houses including La Scala and the Metropolitan Opera.
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Science · Living
Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela
Psychologist and academic
South African psychologist and scholar of trauma, forgiveness and post-conflict repair.
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Photo: Barloworld · Copyright Barloworld, editorial use only, cropped from an annual report and converted to WebP · SourceBusiness · Historical
Punch Barlow
Industrialist and company builder
Company builder who secured the Caterpillar dealership that shaped Barloworld’s equipment business.
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Business · Living
Ralph Mupita
Telecommunications executive
South African engineer and business executive who became MTN Group president and chief executive in September 2020.
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Sport · Living
Rassie Erasmus
Rugby coach and former player
South African rugby coach and former Springbok player who led the national team to the 2019 Rugby World Cup title.
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Business · Historical
Raymond Ackerman
Retail founder
South African retailer who founded Pick n Pay with Wendy Ackerman in 1967 after acquiring four Cape Town stores.
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Photo: OUTsurance / supplied to Business Day · Copyright status unconfirmed; editorial use only · SourceBusiness · Living
René Otto
Insurance co-founder
South African insurance co-founder named by OUTsurance as one of the three people who brought the direct insurer to life in 1998.
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Business · Historical
Renier van Rooyen
Retail founder
South African retail founder who opened the first PEP store in De Aar in 1965.
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Business · Living
Riaan Stassen
Banker and executive
South African banker who led Capitec Bank through much of its early expansion after its establishment in 2001.
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Business · Living
Richard Rivett-Carnac
Brewing executive
Chief executive and business-unit president of South African Breweries.
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Science · Living
Salim Abdool Karim
Infectious disease epidemiologist
South African epidemiologist and CAPRISA director whose research includes HIV prevention and TB-HIV treatment.
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Photo: Woolworths Holdings · Copyright retained by Woolworths Holdings. Editorial use rights review pending. · SourceBusiness · Living
Sam Ngumeni
Retail executive and group chief executive
Woolworths Holdings group chief executive from 1 June 2026 and a long-serving retail and financial-services executive.
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Business · Living
Shameel Joosub
Telecommunications executive
South African telecommunications executive and Vodacom Group chief executive since 2012.
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Sport · Living
Shaun Pollock
Former international cricketer
South African cricketer and former national captain who took more than 800 international wickets.
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Business · Living
Sim Tshabalala
Banker and group chief executive
South African banker who has served as sole chief executive of Standard Bank Group since September 2017.
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Sport · Living
Siya Kolisi
Rugby union player
South African rugby player who captained the Springboks to the 2019 and 2023 Rugby World Cup titles.
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Stanley Lewis
Retail investor and company builder
Controlling investor and company builder who expanded Foschini into a diversified South African retail group.
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Business · Living
Stephen Koseff
Banker and company builder
South African banker, Investec co-founder and former long-serving group chief executive.
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Business · Living
Stephen Saad
Pharmaceutical founder and executive
South African pharmaceutical entrepreneur and founding shareholder of Aspen Pharmacare.
Read profile →Photo: Mr Price Group; photographer not credited · Copyright retained by source. Rights review pending. · SourceBusiness · Living
Stewart Cohen
Retail founder
South African retailer who co-founded Mr Price with Laurie Chiappini and opened the first Mr Price Factory Shop in 1985.
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Business · Living
Tjaart Kruger
Food industry executive
Chief executive and executive director of Tiger Brands since November 2023.
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Arts · Living
Trevor Noah
Comedian, broadcaster and author
South African comedian, author and former host of The Daily Show.
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Science · Living
Tulio de Oliveira
Bioinformatician and professor
Bioinformatician and epidemic-response researcher who directs Stellenbosch University’s Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation.
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Photo: Spur Corporation · Copyright Spur Corporation, editorial use only, cropped and resized · SourceBusiness · Living
Val Nichas
Restaurant group executive
Group chief executive of Spur Corporation from 1 January 2021.
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Technology · Living
Vukosi Marivate
Computer scientist and professor
South African computer scientist whose research focuses on data science, machine learning and natural-language processing for African contexts.
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Sport · Living
Wayde van Niekerk
Track athlete
South African sprinter and Olympic 400-metre champion who set a world record of 43.03 seconds at Rio 2016.
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Photo: Pick n Pay; photographer not credited · Copyright retained by Pick n Pay. No open reuse licence asserted. Rights review pending. · SourceBusiness · Living
Wendy Ackerman
Retail co-founder and company builder
South African retail co-founder and founding executive of Pick n Pay, known for employee liaison, benefits and bursary responsibilities.
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Business · Living
Werner Kapp
Technology executive
Group chief executive of Altron since 1 October 2022.
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Business · Living
Whitey Basson
Retail executive and company builder
South African retailer who led Shoprite from its eight-store 1979 base and built it through organic expansion and acquisitions.
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Business · Living
Willem Roos
Insurance founder and executive
South African actuary and entrepreneur who co-founded OUTsurance, launched in February 1998.
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Arts · Living
William Kentridge
Artist, filmmaker and theatre maker
South African artist whose work spans drawing, animation, film, theatre and opera.
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Photo: Nasionale Boekhandel / Bob Shop seller scan · Copyright status not confirmed, editorial use only · SourceBusiness · Historical
Willie Hofmeyr
Lawyer, business organiser and company chair
South African lawyer and business organiser who became the first chair of Santam and Sanlam in 1918.
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Arts · Living
Wouter Kellerman
Flautist, composer and producer
South African flautist, composer and producer who has won three Grammy Awards.
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