Business and Financial Services

The Business and Financial Services industry is the fastest growing sector in the South African economy. The services sector was also the fastest growing sector globally, in addition more than half of the direct investment into developing countries was in this sector.

The finalists in this sector are DRGSiyaya;  Ilembe Technologies cc; Shepstone and Wylie;   The Development House;  Tongaat Hulett Limited; Woodhead; Bigby & Irving

and Edison Corporation.

DRGSiyaya operates with the sole purpose of providing B-BBEE verification across the complete spectrum of entities requiring this service. Whilst its headquarters are located in KwaZulu-Natal, the company has the capacity to provide its services on a national basis.

Although formally established as a Verification Agency in 2006, DRGSiyaya's experience and background in the field of BEE and related legislation dates back to 2003.

The company is also a Founder member of the BEE KZN Forum, functioning since in 2005, which was established to provide a platform for discussion and debate on BEE matters for its members, the wider business community, and to other stakeholders.

lembe Technologies cc is a company made up of like minded individuals who saw a need to change the way the Information Technology Supplier sector, interacts with Business. The vision was to create a concern that is passionate about it customers and the products that it provides.

Ilembe Technologies has a combined 30 years worth of experience in Information Technology, which enables the company to offer first tier product with best practice technology, which ensures the highest quality service to its clients.

Ilembe Technologies cc aim to become one of the top IT Resellers in the KZN Market place. It is its intention to continue employing PDI who support an ethos of commitment and passion to its clients, as well as partnering with like minded concerns to ensure best service to the client base.

The Development House (TDH) was established in April 2004 and is located in Durban. TDH was founded by Anneline Breetzke and Darlene Menzies  as a 100% Women Owned, KwaZulu-Natal based ICT SMME. TDH's key focus area has been the development of customised electronic systems that have a socio-economic impact in the city, the province and beyond our borders. TDH works across all industry sectors with public, private and civil society organisations.

TDH's business model of linking the under-developed and non-profit world with the developed commercial world of system solution excellence is highly innovative and has been recognised internationally. In June 2008, an international initiative for ICT businesses in developing countries (Trestle Group and Voice for Innovation in partnership with Microsoft) selected TDH's managing owner as one of two South African women to be included in Microsoft's Empowering Women IT Entrepreneurs Programme.

TDH practically and financially supports a local PBO/NGO called Goodwill Industries - this organisation works with unemployed labourers and assists them to find employment in businesses in the city. One of Goodwill's staff in permanently situated at TDH's offices and takes care of all the administration responsibilities for the job linkages.

Established in 1922 by Thomas Theodore Woodhead, Woodhead Bigby & Irving Inc. is an experienced and diverse law firm, capable of offering quick and practical solutions in the branches of the law in which it is consulted.

The Durban office of the firm has occupied the same premises for more than 55 years. The firm and its predecessor-in-title have been a member of the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry for nearly 50 years.

The firm offers legal services in all aspects of business and commercial law, property, trusts and estates, labour, maritime, banking and tax law. It has developed specialized expertise in matters relating to the operations of the Port of Durban and Richard's Bay as well as other prominent KZN based corporates, and parastatal organisations. KZN Tourism, the petroleum industry, and the local motor vehicle component industry are included in Woodhead Bigby and Irving's list of clients. Woodhead Bigby and Irving has been able to demonstrate it's strength by providing effective legal services to both local and international corporate clients.

Vivian Reddy started off with a little electrical business and by sheer determination, hard work and the will to succeed created a success story that is today Edison Corporation the multi- million-rand conglomerate with headquarters in Durban. Mr Reddy is the chairman of Edison Corporation which encompasses business interests like power, polymer currency, health care and pharmaceuticals, property development and casino development.

Winner : Shepstone and Wylie

HARNESSING the knowledge from more than 30 partners around the country, local law firm Shepstone & Wylie brings to the South African economy the benefits inherent in a comprehensive range of personal, corporate and international legal services.

The Durban-based firm has a proud history dating to its establishment in 1892 that has forged a market leader with representation in Cape Town, Johannesburg, Richards Bay, Pietermaritzburg and London.

Local and international affiliations further extend the representation of the company throughout southern Africa, Europe and North America. In this vein Shepstone & Wylie is committed to providing clients with highly professional and specialised services, while remaining loyal to the responsibility for corporate citizenship.

BEE plays a vital role in the reconstruction of the South African economy and Shepstone & Wylie believes strongly in the merits of ensuring the benefits of this country are spread across the broadest base. In this vein the firm has strategies in place to assist and develop black-owned small, medium and micro-enterprise businesses, while actively procuring goods and services from emerging black-owned ventures. The partnership also strives to develop young lawyers into equity partners with 19% currently owned by black partners.

Looking to the future, Shepstone & Wylie will build on the sound service excellence to generate a platform of growth for KwaZulu-Natal. Given the comprehensive range of professional legal services and the breadth of representation provincially, nationally and internationally, Shepstone & Wylie is strategically positioned to further differentiate itself from its competitors.