WeeklySA_AdminCOMMITMENT: Inside the business indaba in Johannesburg and ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba’s Call for a New Era of Black Entrepreneurship echoed with an air of conviction…
By Lihle Candice Malinga
Africa’s visionaries gathered under the bright lights of the Sandton Convention Centre for the 13th All Africa Business Leaders Awards (AABLA), a night defined by ambition, innovation, and a collective belief that the continent is not just rising, it has arrived. The event happened on the eve of the G20 Summit last week.
But beyond the glamour and applause, this year’s awards also echoed a deeper question:
What does it mean for leaders to show up?
And why does presence matter now more than ever?
Few articulated this more sharply than businessman and political leader Herman Mashaba, who attended the event with a mission not simply to observe, but to participate in shaping Africa’s entrepreneurial conversation.
“We are not even 5% of where we need to be,” Mashaba’s candid assessment
Speaking on the sidelines of the awards, Mashaba reflected on the journey that began for him in the “darkest days of our country’s history.” Having cast his first democratic vote in 1994 for President Nelson Mandela, he expected a flourishing of Black entrepreneurship. Instead, he says, the vision remains unrealised.
“If you look at our unemployment levels, our education crisis, and the collapse of small business infrastructure, this is not the future we imagined. We are not even 5% of where we need to be.”
Mashaba places the blame squarely on post-1994 policy failures, arguing that dysfunctional schools, restrictive labour laws, and the collapse of industrial zones have suffocated aspiring entrepreneurs.
Yet despite his disappointment, his presence at the AABLAs symbolises something else: a refusal to abandon hope.
“Where there’s darkness, I always see light. I’m in politics today because I believe in the future of this country. The work I’m doing is for future generations.”
For Mashaba, showing up at events like the AABLAs is not about prestige, its about momentum, visibility, and reminding young people that entrepreneurship is still the engine that can transform the continent.
A continent redefining itself
This year’s AABLA ceremony reinforced that message loudly. Roberta Naicker, Managing Director of the ABN Group, emphasised that the awards honour leaders whose passion and innovation are shaping Africa’s economic trajectory.
“Being among the winners affirms that your dedication is driving the continent forward,” she said.
The continent’s resilience was on full display: from the rise of fintech giants, to the rapid integration of mobile money, to manufacturers who pivoted during the pandemic with remarkable agility.
In his opening address, ABN Group Vice-Chairman Sid Wahi captured the spirit of the evening:
“Africa is no longer waiting to arrive. Africa has arrived.”
Across the room, the stories of the winners mirrored this shift from potential to performance.
Honouring the architects of Africa’s future
Ten leaders took home top honours at the 2025 AABLA, each representing a different pillar of Africa’s growth:
• Innovator of the Year – Tolulope Williams (Siltech World): A pioneer of electric mobility, championing Africa’s clean-energy future.
• Sports, Arts & Culture Award – Wouter Kellerman: An artist whose global acclaim places African creativity on the world stage.
• CFO of the Year – Samuel Nwanze (Heirs Energies): A driver of indigenous energy development and landmark investments.
• Businesswoman of the Year – Dr Owen Omogiafo (Transcorp Plc): A symbol of women reshaping leadership in Africa.
• Company of the Year – Ecobank Group: A pan-African force championing financial inclusion across 30+ markets.
• Business Leader of the Year – Lincoln Mali (Lesaka Technologies): A visionary expanding digital access and payment systems in underserved communities.
• Africa Lifetime Achievement & African Leader of the Year – Stephen Saad (Aspen Pharmacare): A trailblazer in African pharma, building the continent’s largest medicine manufacturer.
• Chairperson of the Year – Mteto Nyati: A leader known for innovation-driven operational reform.
• African of the Decade – Professor Benedict Oramah (Afreximbank): The architect of intra-African trade growth.
Where policy meets purpose
When asked whether South Africa suffers more from an education crisis or a lack of entrepreneurial opportunities, Mashaba insisted the two are inseparable.
“It’s a cocktail of challenges. Without education, we can’t grow the economy. Without supportive labour laws, small businesses can’t survive.”
He argues that political will—not just private initiative—is required to unlock real opportunity:
“I realised that NGOs alone cannot fix this. You need micro-level intervention through government. That’s why I entered politics—to open doors for future generations.”
Why showing up matters
Amid the speeches, accolades, and celebration, the deeper narrative of the night became clear:
Africa’s transformation requires not only innovation, but presence. Leaders must show up—physically, vocally, and consistently—to nurture the entrepreneurial ecosystems needed for the continent’s next leap.
Mashaba’s attendance underscored this truth: visibility inspires young entrepreneurs; presence creates momentum; participation strengthens the narrative of Black economic empowerment.
In a room full of Africa’s brightest minds, one thing became undeniable: The continent’s future won’t be built overnight, but it will be built by those who continue to show up.
