View the finalists for the 2021 Absa Business Day Supplier Development Awards

Vusi Fele, chief procurement officer for Absa, at the 2019 Absa Business Day Supplier Development Awards. Source: www.sdawards.co.za

“Whilst we are going through challenging times, which have been made worse by the Covid-19 pandemic, enterprise and supplier development presents a golden opportunity to develop resilience in supply chains and strengthen ecosystems,” says Vusi Fele, chief procurement officer at Absa.

“It is critical now more than ever for corporates in both the public and private sectors to use their supply chains to help develop and grow small suppliers, who are the real drivers of economic growth and job creation,” Vele adds.

“At Absa, we are delighted to be supporting these awards for the fourth year in a row, which recognise those large companies that have done well in using their supply chains to build thriving SMEs. On behalf of Absa, I would like to congratulate all the finalists and applaud them for the good example that they are setting for others.”

Finalists for 2021

The 2021 finalists (audited by BDO South Africa) are:

• Anglo American Zimele
• Bidvest Afcom
• Sanlam Foundation
• Sanofi Aventis South Africa
• Distell Group
• Spar South Africa
• Empact Group
• Tiger Brands
• Exxaro Resources Limited
• Fidelity Services Group
• Government Employees Medical Scheme (Gems)
• Ithuba National Lottery
• Uyandiswa Project Management Services
• V&A Waterfront
• Wunderman Thompson

Winners of the Absa Business Day Supplier Development Awards will be announced on 18 November 2021 via a hybrid gala event and digital announcement. The awards are complemented by a series of free digitised workshops for insiders who are part of the SD ecosystem.

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Judging panel

The judging panel for the 2021 awards comprises the following industry representatives:

• Catherine Wijnberg, CEO, Fetola
• Sekai Chiwandamira, regional chapter manager, Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs
• Ajay Kanjee: financial director, Henley Business School Africa
• Vusi Fele, chief procurement officer, Absa Group Limited
• Mamosa Motjope, managing director, Wamobu Consulting
• Nosipho Khonkwane, managing director, Leap Enterprise Development
• Michal Pillay, supplier diversity, Absa Group Limited
• Dr Rethabile Melamu, general manager - green economy, The Innovation Hub
• Christian Kabongo: black industrial specialist: technical service, IDC
• David Mparutsa, head enterprise and supplier development, ex SA (Africa), Absa
• Elmarie Goosen, founder, Clinic with Purpose

Catherine Wijnberg, CEO of Fetola and member of the adjudication panel, says: “The quality of the submissions this year was superb. Many of the finalists display a true commitment to a long-term strategic supplier development plan that aims to make a significant difference to small supplier success and local competitive advantage. Even in the face of the Covid-19 crisis, the commitment to strengthening our local ecosystem and supporting industry collaboration is evident,” she concludes.