The Minara Chamber of Commerce has officially announced the finalists for the 2025 Minara Business Recognition Awards, a prestigious platform honouring excellence, innovation and leadership across South Africa’s diverse business and professional landscape.
This year’s event carries special weight as it marks the 25th milestone year of the awards. Since inception, the Chamber has built a legacy of celebrating individuals and organisations “who exemplify entrepreneurial spirit, resilience and meaningful contributions to both economic development and societal well-being.”
A Cross-Section of South African Talent
The 2025 finalists represent a wide cross-section of industries, reflecting the breadth of talent and enterprise within the South African community. The finalists are named in several categories, highlighting established businesses, rising entrepreneurs and community leaders shaping the country’s economic fabric.
- Business Entity of the Year – Large: Gorimas, HBZ Bank, Farm Fresh Chickens.
- Business Entity of the Year – Medium: Valternative Energy, Africa Flavours Distributors (Pty) Ltd, Iqlaas Foods.
- Business Entity of the Year – Start-up: Racket Rescue, Plastimed, Krypton Web.
- Businessperson of the Year: Fathima Gany, Ismail Simjee, Abdul Gani Rahman.
- Businesswoman of the Year: Amina Abrahams, Salma Mohamed.
- Young Achiever of the Year: Rishaad Joosab, Zaid Paruk.
- Community Builder of the Year: Hafsa Carim, Hoosein Saloojee, Shamsudeen Moola.
- Professional Achiever of the Year: Aziz Tayob, Ebrahim Asmal, Mumtaz Peerbhay.
These categories underscore not only the diversity of South African enterprise but also the balance between established corporate players and fresh entrepreneurial talent entering the ecosystem.
The Chamber is especially proud to present the 2025 Lifetime Achiever Award to Dr Imtiaz Sooliman, founder of Gift of the Givers. The accolade recognizes “his exceptional humanitarian work and visionary leadership that continues to inspire South Africans and global citizens alike.”
Dr Sooliman’s recognition comes at a time when humanitarian leadership is increasingly interwoven with entrepreneurship and social enterprise across Africa, demonstrating how business acumen and compassion can converge to shape impact-driven futures.
“This year’s awards received record number of high-calibre nominations,” Minara said in a statement. This is a clear signal of the enduring strength, innovation and resilience within South Africa’s business and professional communities. This heightened interest not only validates the significance of the Minara Awards but also mirrors broader regional trends: a surge in entrepreneurial activity, diversification of industries and growing recognition of Africa’s capacity to produce world-class leaders.
Awards Gala in Durban
Winners will be revealed at the Awards Ceremony and Gala Dinner, scheduled for Friday, 24 October 2025 in Durban. The event promises to be a landmark gathering of business leaders, professionals, and community champions, with keynote remarks delivered by Lincoln Mali, a renowned CEO and respected thought leader.
According to the Chamber, the evening will be “an unforgettable evening of recognition, inspiration, and celebration,” spotlighting not just individual achievement but also the collective momentum of South Africa’s entrepreneurial community.
For African entrepreneurship, the Minara Awards provide a vital stage. They bridge tradition and innovation, recognizing businesses from large-scale entities like HBZ Bank to agile start-ups like Krypton Web. The finalists’ diversity illustrates the dynamism of South Africa’s economy where agri-food, finance, technology and social enterprise intersect.
By celebrating both profitability and purpose, the awards reaffirm that African entrepreneurship is not only about scaling ventures but also about shaping communities, influencing policy and strengthening societal resilience.
