The captains of industry in KwaZulu-Natal are toasting success after the winners of the second FNB KZN Top Business Awards 2008 were announced on Thursday the 28 August at a fabulous Gala Dinner at Durban's International Convention Centre. The event also coincided with the launch of the 10^th edition of the KwaZulu-Natal Top Business Portfolio, which is a well respected marketing and networking resource for the Province. MEC for Finance and Economic Development, Dr Zweli Mkhize, the key note speaker for the evening highlighted the important role of all businesses that participate in KwaZulu-Natal's current success and future economic growt

This prestigious evening brought together over 700 people, representing business, government and community for a celebration of excellence in the province. MC for the evening was Makhosi Khoza of SABC Radio 2000 and musical entertainment  was provided by the outstanding band Afritude and laughter by the comedian, John Vlismas. After the launch of the 10^th edition of the KZN Top Business Portfolio, the much anticipated finalists and prize winners were announced.

Finalists and Winners           Click here for full article and photo gallery

1. Agriculture

• Illovo Sugar Limited
• NCT Forestry Co-operative Ltd
• The Stables Wine Estate
• Tongaat Hulett Limited
• Orange Grove Dairy

Winner NCT Forestry Co-operative Ltd

2. Mining and Quarrying

• Corobrik
• Richards Bay Minerals

Winner Richards Bay Minerals

3. Manufacturing

• Alltube
• Altech UEC
• ArcelorMittal Steel Newcastle Works
• Buckman Laboratories
• Clover
• Hulamin
• NCP Alcohols
• Metair Investments
• Foskor Richards Bay

Winner :Hulamin Limited

4. Utilities

• Mhlathuze Water
• Umgeni Water

Winner: Umgeni Water

5. Construction

• Liviero
• Group Five KZN
• J.T. Ross

Winner Group Five KZN

6.      Trade

• Afgri Producer Services
• iTalk Cellular
• McCarthy Limited
• Mr Price Group
• Spar Group KZN

Winner: Spar Group KZN

7.      Transport, Storage and Communication

• Grindrod Limited
• Mediterranean Shipping Company
• Richards Bay Coal Terminal
• Safmarine
• Siemens

Winner :Richards Bay Coal Terminal

8.   Financial and Business services

• DRG Siyaya
• Ilembe Technologies cc
• Shepstone and Wylie 
• The Development House
• Tongaat Hulett Limited
• Woodhead Bigby Irving
• Edison Corporation

Winner: Shepstone and Wylie

9.      Social and Community services

• KwaZulu-Natal Graduate School of Business
• East Coast Radio
• KZNonSource
• Management College of Southern Africa (Mancosa)
• SA Sugar Association

Winner:    KZNonSource

10.    Tourism

• Gooderson Leisure Corporation
• Sibaya Casino & Entertainment Kingdom
• Durban Tourism
• Tourism KZN
• The Stables

Winner :Gooderson Leisure Corporation

11.    Municipal 

Winner:   Ilembe District Municipality

12.    Government

Winner:    Department of Local Government and Traditional Affairs

13.    Partnership Award

Winners:
The Stables Wine Estate
Gijima KZN

An Award was also given for a municipality and government department contributing to the socio-economic growth of the Province by attracting investment. These awards were won by Ilembe District Municipality and the Department of Traditional and Local Government.

"In line with current trend of promoting sustainable growth in South Africa," Montsho adds, "the top accolades of the evening was awarded to a public private partnership (PPP) that is currently active in development projects in KwaZulu-Natal. Together, organizations can achieve what a single entity does not have the capacity, skills or resources to implement." This award was given to the Stables Wine Estate and Gijima KZN.

Both FNB and Pearl Coral 4 would like to congratulate all participants in the 2008 Awards. The very high standard of the companies and organizations who were entrants made the judging an arduous process and the finalists and winners are to be especially commended.  Over 150 nominations from a range of companies across the different economic categories were received, nominees included:

Afripack, aQuellé, Catering Supreme, Chemspec, Frame Textile Group,  Hosaf, Hulamin, Jonsson Group, Nampak, NCS Resins, Rainbow Chickens, Southern African Shipyards (Pty) LTD, Spring Lights Gas, Elma Engineering Services (Pty) Ltd, Paradigm Container