August officially marks the start of Women’s Month and to commemorate this period, we have compiled a list of South Africa’s 10 most powerful women in 2021.
The criteria we used to develop this list
It is important to note that this is the first of many lists we plan on compiling on an annual basis. In building the guiding principles behind this listicle, we looked at a wide range of factors that go into determining the power and influence wielded by women in South Africa.
Generally, lists of this nature prioritise material factors such as net worth and accolades in pitting candidates against each other. While marketers and viral-thirsty PR gurus would feind for a similar, traditionalist approach, we at Swisher Post News, considered the following factors in determining power and influence:
- Social standing
- Position in career field
- Recognised philanthropic work
- Game-changing projects achieved or currently underway
Unless one gets untethered access to assets and liabilities statements, we will never truly know a candidate’s net worth. Besides, this list is about shining the light on women of high esteem who have used their influence to make a positive impact on society.
South Africa’s 10 most powerful women in 2021
Without further ado, this is our Top 10 list of South Africa’s most powerful women in 2021.
Magda Wierzycka
Madgalena Wierzycka is a Polish-South African billionaire businesswoman who is deemed by reputable sources as the country’s richest woman.
The 52-year-old is the founder of a multi-billion-dollar financial services and asset management company, Sygnia.
- Social standing: The richest woman in South Africa (Forbes 2020)
- Position in career: Wierzycka heads Sygnia, a financial services and asset management multinational with a portfolio worth more than R162 billion
- Recognised philanthropic work: Anti-corruption activism
- Game-changing projects achieved or currently underway: A venture capital fund for South African startups
Graca Machel
While Graca Machel is a Mozambique native, the 75-year-old has close ties with South Africa, thanks, in part, to her marriage to the late former president Nelson Mandela.
Machel’s humanitarian work earned her recognition as a British Dame (DBE HonFBA) by Queen Elizabeth and till this day, Mandela’s widow continues playing an important role in advocating for women and children’s rights.
- Social standing: Leading global humanitarian
- Position in career: Founder of The Elders, Graca Machel Trust and a number of non-profit organisations
- Recognised philanthropic work: Women and children’s rights activism
- Game-changing projects achieved or currently underway: The Graca Machel Trust’s ‘Girl Movement’
Irene Charnley
Irene Charnely is a 61-year telecommunications magnate and founder of Smile Telecoms Holdings, a company servicing “bottom-of-the-pyramid” consumers in Africa and the Middle East.
- Social standing: A revered trade unionist and leading businesswoman in Africa
- Position in career: CEO of Smile Telecoms Holdings
- Recognised philanthropic work: Women empowerment
- Game-changing projects achieved or currently underway: Leader of International Women’s Forum South Africa.
Bonang Matheba
Bonang Matheba is a 34-year-old entertainment magnate and businesswoman with a number of rising portfolios in the beverage and media industries.
- Social standing: Businesswoman, leading media magnate and producer
- Position in career: Founder of House of BNG, Bonang Matheba Entertainment
- Recognised philanthropic work: Women empowerment
- Game-changing projects achieved or currently underway: Bonang Matheba Bursay Fund
Phuthi Mahanyele-Dabengwa
Phuthi Mahanyele-Dabengwa is a 50-year-old business executive. She made history in 2019 when Naspers South Africa recruited her as the century-old company’s first black African CEO.
- Social standing: Leading businesswoman
- Position in career: Founder of Sigma Capital, CEO of Naspers South Africa
- Recognised philanthropic work: Women empowerment and social justice
- Game-changing projects achieved or currently underway: World Economic Forum’s “Dignity Day” initiative. National Education Empowerment Trust.
Wendy Luhabe
Wendy Luhabe is a 64-year-old self-made entrepreneur and author of Defining Moments: Experiences of Black Executives in South Africa’s Workplace. She gained her reputation as a leading businesswoman as former board chairperson at Vodacom and the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC).
- Social standing: Leading social entrepreneur
- Position in career: Independent Director in various sectors and serves as Chair on boards of the Social Justice Initiative, Richemont and chair the Libstar and Pepkor boards
- Recognised philanthropic work: Social justice and empowerment
- Game-changing projects achieved or currently underway: Women’s Prayer Circle
Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka
Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka is a 65-year-old politician and former Deputy President of South Africa. Mlambo-Ngcuka is revered for her extensive work in social activism through her ties with the United Nations.
- Social standing: Leading politician
- Position in career: Executive Director of UN Women, and Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations
- Recognised philanthropic work: Women empowerment, leadership and education
- Game-changing projects achieved or currently underway: Umlambo Foundation
Dr Tshepo Motsepe
Dr Tshepo Motsepe is a 68-year-old physician and businesswoman. Despite her relation to the billionaire Motsepe dynasty, the 68-year-old is also South Africa’s current First Lady and wife of President Cyril Ramaphosa.
- Social standing: Leading physician and businesswoman
- Position in career; South Africa’s First Lady, qualified medical doctor
- Recognised philanthropic work: Women and children rights activism
- Game-changing projects achieved or currently underway: Early Care Foundation, Students Sponsorship Program, Vaal Reefs Disaster Trust and the Kids Haven Foundation
Connie Ferguson
Connie Ferguson is a 51-year-old veteran actress, producer, independent filmmaker and businesswoman. Ferguson, who recently suffered a major loss in her life with the untimely passing of her husband, Shona, started her acting career as the revered Karabo Moroka on Generations. Today, she owns one of South Africa’s biggest production companies, Ferguson Films.
- Social standing: Leading businesswoman in SA film industry
- Position in career: Founder of Ferguson Films, actress, producer, independent filmmaker
- Recognised philanthropic work: Social activism
- Game-changing projects achieved or currently underway: Ferguson Foundation
Mihlali Ndamase
Mihlali Ndamase is a 24-year-old YouTuber-turned-businesswoman. What started out as a natural love for make-up tutorials quickly sprung into a high-rising career in digital media and in 2021, she commands a powerful and influential voice on social media with more than two million followers on her pages. She was also included in Forbes ’30 Under 30′ list for 2021.
- Social standing: YouTuber and businesswoman
- Position in career: Founder of ‘Beauty and the Beat’
- Recognised philanthropic work: Women empowerment
- Game-changing projects achieved or currently underway: Siyasizana Foundation