
South Africa is the southernmostcountry inAfrica. It is the25th-largest country in the world by land area, and with close to60 million people, is the world's24th-most populous nation.
TheWorld Bank classifies South Africa as an upper-middle-income economy, and anewly industrialised country.[1][2] Its economy is the largest in Africa, and the 34th-largest in the world.[3] In terms ofpurchasing power parity, South Africa has theseventh-highest per capita income in Africa. However, poverty andinequality remain widespread, with about a quarter of the population unemployed and living on less than US$1.25 a day.[4][5] Nevertheless, South Africa has been identified as amiddle power in international affairs, and maintains significant regional influence.[6][7]
For further information on the types of business entities in this country and their abbreviations, see "Business entities in South Africa".
| Name | Founded | Industry | Revenue (2018) | Headquarters | Market Value (2018) | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anglo American | 1917 | Diversified Metals & Mining | $27.6 billion | Johannesburg | $35.9 billion | [8] |
| Sasol | 1950 | Chemicals | $14.8 billion | Sandton | $21 billion | [8] |
| Shoprite Holdings | 1979 | Food Retail | $11 billion | Brackenfell | $7 billion | [8] |
| MTN Group | 1994 | Telecommunications | $10 billion | Randburg | $13.5 billion | [8] |
| Absa Group Limited | 1991 | Banking | $9.7 billion | Johannesburg | $9.9 billion | [8] |
| Standard Bank Group | 1862 | Banking | $9.6 billion | Johannesburg | $22.9 billion | [8] |
| Bidvest | 1988 | Investment Services | $9.4 billion | Sandton | $7.2 billion | [8] |
| Sanlam | 1918 | Life & Health Insurance | $8.9 billion | Bellville | $12.4 billion | [8] |
| Old Mutual | 1845 | Insurance | $8.2 billion | Sandton | $8.3 billion | [8] |
| Nedbank | 1888 | Banking | $7.7 billion | Sandton | $9.4 billion | [8] |
| FirstRand | 1838 | Banking | $7.6 billion | Sandton | $27.2 billion | [8] |
| Naspers | 1915 | Broadcasting | $6.9 billion | Cape Town | $111.3 billion | [8] |
| Vodacom | 1994 | Telecommunications | $6.5 billion | Midrand | $9.6 billion | [9] |
| Mondi | 1967 | Paper & Paper Products | $8.8 billion | Johannesburg | $10.9 billion | [8] |
| MMI Holdings Limited | 1898 | Life & Health Insurance | $6.1 billion | Centurion | $1.8 billion | [8] |
| Investec | 1974 | Investment Services | $6 billion | Sandton | $6.3 billion | [8] |
| Telkom | 1910 | Telecommunications | $3 billion | Centurion | $3.8 billion | [10] |
| Remgro | 1948 | Conglomerates | $2 billion | Stellenbosch | $10.1 billion | [11] |
This list includes notablecompanies with primaryheadquarters located in the country. The industry and sector follow theIndustry Classification Benchmark taxonomy. Organizations which have ceased operations are included and noted as defunct.
| Name | Industry | Sector | Headquarters | Founded | Notes | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adcock Ingram | Health care | Pharmaceuticals | Midrand | 1891 | Healthcare products | P | A |
| Afrihost | Telecommunications | Fixed line telecommunications | Sandton | 2000 | ISP | P | A |
| Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) | Industrials | Transportation services | Bedfordview | 1993 | Airport management | P | A |
| Anglo American | Basic materials | General mining | Johannesburg | 1917 | Mining | P | A |
| Anglo American Platinum | Basic materials | General mining | Johannesburg | 1995 | Mining, part ofAnglo American | P | A |
| Aspen Pharmacare | Health care | Pharmaceuticals | uMhlanga | 1850 | Drug company | P | A |
| Automobile Association of South Africa | Consumer services | Specialized consumer services | Midrand | 1930 | Automotive services | P | A |
| ABSA Group | Financials | Banks | Johannesburg | 1991 | Banking and investments | P | A |
| Beekman Group | Real estate | Real Estate Investment and Services | Port Shepstone | 1970 | property developer | P | A |
| Business Connexion Group | Technology | Software | Centurion | 1979 | I/T | P | A |
| Capitec Bank | Financials | Banks | Stellenbosch | 2001 | Bank | P | A |
| Cell C | Telecommunications | Mobile telecommunications | Randburg | 2001 | Mobile network | P | A |
| Checkers | Consumer services | Food retailers & wholesalers | Brackenfell | 1956[12] | Supermarkets, part ofShoprite since 1991 | P | A |
| Cognician | Consumer services | Education Services | Cape Town | 2010 | e-learning platform | P | A |
| De Beers | Basic materials | General mining | Johannesburg | 1995 | Mining | P | A |
| Defy Appliances | Manufacturing & services | Appliances | Durban | 1905 | P | A | |
| De Haan's Bus & Coach | Industrials | Commercial vehicles & trucks | Cape Town | 1951 | Bus manufacturer | P | A |
| Dimension Data | Technology | Software | Sandton | 1983 | Software and services | P | A |
| e.tv | Consumer services | Broadcasting & entertainment | Cape Town | 1998 | Television | P | A |
| Eskom | Utilities | Conventional electricity | Sandton | 1923 | Electrical producer and distribution | S | A |
| Exxaro | Basic materials | Coal | Centurion | 2006 | Coal mining | P | A |
| Food Lover's Market | Consumer services | Food retailers & wholesalers | Brackenfell | 1993 | Food Retailer | P | A |
| First National Bank | Financials | Banks | Johannesburg | 1838 | Bank, part ofFirst Rand | P | A |
| First Rand | Financials | Banks | Johannesburg | 1998 | Bank | P | A |
| FNB Connect | Telecommunications | Fixed line telecommunications | Johannesburg | 2009 | ISP, part ofFirst National Bank | P | A |
| Gallo Record Company | Consumer services | Broadcasting & entertainment | Johannesburg | 1926 | Record label, part ofTimes Media Group | P | A |
| Gijima Group | Technology | Telecommunications equipment | Centurion | 1998 | Communications technology | P | A |
| Gold Fields | Basic materials | Gold mining | Sandton | 1998 | Gold mining | P | A |
| Golden Arrow Bus Services | Consumer services | Travel & tourism | Cape Town | 1863 | Public transportation | P | A |
| gTool | Manufacturing | Production Technology Equipment | Pretoria | 2013 | Mobile repair tools | P | A |
| H Pistorius & Co | Basic materials | Lime mining | Pretoria | 1944 | Agricultural lime | P | A |
| Harmony Gold | Basic materials | Gold mining | Johannesburg | 1950 | Gold mining | P | A |
| Hollard Group | Financials | Full line insurance | Johannesburg | 1980 | Private insurance | P | A |
| Illovo Sugar | Consumer goods | Food products | uMhlanga | 1891 | Sugar | P | A |
| Impala Platinum | Basic materials | General mining | Johannesburg | 1973 | Mining and refining | P | A |
| Kumba Iron Ore | Basic materials | Iron & steel | Centurion | 2001 | Iron mining | P | A |
| Investec | Financials | Banks | Sandton | 1974 | Banking and investments | P | A |
| LIFE Healthcare Group | Health care | Health care providers | Randburg | 1983[13] | Hospitals | P | A |
| Mathews & Associates Architects | Industrials | Business support services | Pretoria | 2000 | Architecture | P | A |
| Mediclinic International | Health care | Health care providers | Stellenbosch | 1983 | Hospitals | P | A |
| M-Net | Consumer services | Broadcasting & entertainment | Randburg | 1986 | Television | P | A |
| Mr. Price Group Ltd. | Retail | Clothing, home and sport goods | Durban | 1985 | P | A | |
| MTN Group | Telecommunications | Fixed line telecommunications | Johannesburg | 1994 | Multinational telecom | P | A |
| MultiChoice | Consumer services | Broadcasting & entertainment | Randburg | 1996 | Entertainment and broadcasting | P | A |
| MWEB | Telecommunications | Fixed line telecommunications | Cape Town | 1997 | ISP | P | A |
| Naspers | Consumer services | Broadcasting & entertainment | Cape Town | 1915 | Media group | P | A |
| Nedbank | Financials | Banks | Sandton | 1888 | Bank | P | A |
| Neotel | Telecommunications | Fixed line telecommunications | Midrand | 2006 | ISP | P | A |
| Netcare | Health care | Health care providers | Sandton | 1996 | Hospitals, part ofGeneral Healthcare Group (UK) | P | A |
| Nu Metro Cinemas | Consumer services | Recreational services | Randburg | 1932 | Cinemas | P | A |
| Old Mutual | Financials | Asset managers | Johannesburg | 1845 | Asset management and insurance | P | A |
| Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa | Industrials | Railroads | Johannesburg | 1990 | Railroads | S | A |
| PetroSA | Oil & gas | Exploration & production | Cape Town | 1965 | State-owned oil | S | A |
| Pick 'n Pay | Consumer services | Food retailers & wholesalers | Cape Town | 1967 | Supermarket chain | P | A |
| Pioneer Foods | Consumer goods | Food products | Bellville | 1997 | Packaged goods | P | A |
| PPC Ltd. | Industrials | Building materials & fixtures | Pretoria | 1892 | Cement | P | A |
| Premier FMCG | Consumer goods | Food products | Midrand | 1820 | Packaged foods | P | A |
| Primedia | Consumer services | Broadcasting & entertainment | Sandton | 1994 | Media holding group | P | A |
| Primedia Broadcasting | Consumer services | Broadcasting & entertainment | Sandton | 1994 | Radio, news, part ofPrimedia | P | A |
| PUTCO | Consumer services | Travel & tourism | Sandton | 1945 | Public transportation | P | A |
| RCL Foods | Consumer goods | Food products | Westville | 1960 | Primarily packaged foods | P | A |
| Retief, de Ville & Co. | Industrials | Commercial vehicles and trucks | Paarl | ca. 1880 | Coaches | P | A |
| Rovos Rail | Industrials | Railroads | Pretoria | 1989 | Rail | P | A |
| South African Broadcasting Corporation | Consumer services | Broadcasting & entertainment | Johannesburg | 1936 | State broadcasting | S | A |
| South African Airways | Consumer services | Airlines | Kempton Park | 1934 | Airline | S | A |
| Sanlam | Financials | Asset managers | Bellville | 1918 | Asset management and insurance | P | A |
| Sappi | Basic materials | Paper | Johannesburg | 1936 | Paper | P | A |
| Sasol | Oil & gas | Exploration & production | Sandton | 1950 | Refining | P | A |
| Shoprite | Consumer services | Food retailers & wholesalers | Brackenfell | 1979 | Food retailer | P | A |
| South African Breweries | Consumer goods | Brewers | Sandton | 1895 | Brewery, part ofAnheuser-Busch InBev (Belgium) | P | A |
| South African Post Office | Industrials | Delivery services | Pretoria | 1991 | Postal services | S | A |
| Standard Bank | Financials | Banks | Johannesburg | 1862 | Banks | P | A |
| StarSat, South Africa | Consumer services | Broadcasting & entertainment | Midrand | 2010 | Part ofStarTimes (China) | P | A |
| Ster-Kinekor | Consumer services | Recreational services | Sandton | 1969 | Cinemas | P | A |
| Telkom | Telecommunications | Fixed line telecommunications | Centurion | 1991 | Telecom | P | A |
| Telkom Mobile | Telecommunications | Mobile telecommunications | Centurion | 2010 | Mobile GSM, part ofTelkom | P | A |
| Tiger Brands | Consumer goods | Food products | Sandton | 1921 | Primarily packaged foods | P | A |
| Times Media Group | Consumer services | Publishing | Johannesburg | 2012 | Publisher | P | A |
| Tongaat Hulett | Consumer goods | Food products | oThongathi | 1892 | Sugar | P | A |
| Transnet National Ports Authority | Industrials | Transportation services | Johannesburg | 2005 | Ports | S | A |
| Transnet | Industrials | Transportation services | Johannesburg | 1990 | Ports and rail | S | A |
| Travelstart | Consumer services | Travel & tourism | Cape Town | 1999 | Travel booking | P | A |
| Union Carriage & Wagon | Industrials | Commercial vehicles & trucks | Nigel | 1957 | Rolling stock manufacturer | P | A |
| Vodacom | Telecommunications | Mobile telecommunications | Midrand | 1994 | Mobile network, part ofVodafone (UK) | P | A |
| Wesizwe Platinum | Basic materials | General mining | Johannesburg | 2003[14] | Mining | P | A |
| Wootware | Retail | Computer hardware retailer | Cape Town | 2007 | P | A | |
| Woolworths | Consumer services | Broadline retailers | Cape Town | 1931 | Retail stores | P | A |
Southern Africa is home to the other of sub-Saharan Africa's regional powers: South Africa. South Africa is more than just a regional power; it is currently the most developed and economically powerful country in Africa, and now it is able to use that influence in Africa more than during the days of apartheid (white rule), when it was ostracised.