The winners of the Standard Bank KZN Top Business Awards 2018 were announced at a glamorous gala dinner held at the Elangeni & Maharani Hotel on the 21 June.

The annual awards, now in their twelfth year, is one of the premiere events on the annual KwaZulu-Natal business calendar and was attended by many captains of industry and their invited guests from across the province. Alan Khan, the master of ceremonies, kept the event running smoothly while guests were entertained by comedian Masood Boomgaard and members of the band, Vuka.

The Standard Bank KZN Top Business awards celebrate achievements, in the public and private business arenas, over the past year in several different categories.

Imraan Noorbhai, Standard Bank KZN Provincial Head said, “Let us as Business KZN embrace these opportunities to create meaningful and constructive dialogue, dedicating ourselves to running successful businesses that create growth and opportunities, reducing unemployment and inequality and building a province where all benefit from its rich resources, where people can live with dignity, harmony and mutual respect for each other.”

The industry sector awards focus on organisations’ and companies’ successes in relationship to the economic, environmental and social spheres in KwaZulu-Natal. Factors such as brand and reputation, stakeholder relations and goodwill, environmental sustainability, social responsibility, and quality of governance are all considered in the formal judging process.

Winners across the various sectors were:

• Mining: Tronox Limited
• Manufacturing: aQuellé
• Construction and Property Development: Shree Property Holdings
• Utilities: SLG (Pty) Ltd
• Trade: Hirsch’s
• Transport: City Logistics
• Financial Services: FMI
• Business Services: Blue Security
• Community and Social Services: THINK (Tuberculosis and HIV Investigative Network)
• Tourism: Fairmont Zimbali Resort

The prestigious Standard Bank KZN Top Business Leader’s award was given to Imtiaz Sooliman, the founder, director and chairman of Gift of the Givers, a disaster relief agency, which has been in existence for 26 years. Sooliman also addressed the audience who were inspired by the story of the Gift of the Givers and humbled by the insights into the organisation’s worldwide humanitarian efforts.

The Standard Bank KZN Top Business Partnership award was awarded to eThekwini Municipality and its unit Invest Durban.

The Standard Bank KZN Top Business Top Brand is enthusiastically contested over several weeks, which sees much excitement. This award is awarded solely based on the results of an online public poll. The winner in 2018 was uShaka Marine World.

Two additional awards were given in the SMME and entrepreneur categories. eLan Property Group gave the SMME category award to Madunge Events and Projects. Walter Coughlan â€" Fair Food Company was given the Businessfit Entrepreneur Award.

Grant Adlam, publisher of the KZN Top Business, congratulated all winners and finalists. He said, “We congratulate all participants and would like to acknowledge them for their achievements as in keeping with our motto â€" success breeds success. In our eyes, all involved in the Standard Bank KZN Top Business initiative are winners.

Lisa Forster, Head: Wealth Management: Wealth and Investment KwaZulu-Natal, who was one of the speakers said, “It takes people who have vision and leadership to transform opportunity into success.” She added, “With Standard Bank being the largest bank on the African continent, we are in an incredibly privileged position to make a meaningful impact on the lives of all those living in Africa and we look forward to hopefully partnering with you and your businesses in YOUR journey as we all dream of renewed focus and hope for KwaZulu-Natal and our great country.”