Basetsana Kumalo
Kumalo is the Executive Chairman and CEO of Basetsana Women Investment Holdings (Pty) Ltd. A former Miss South Africa and former Miss World runner-up has become a formidable force in the media industry.
Cutting her teeth as a Top Billing presenter, Kumalo then became joint shareholder of Tswelopele Productions. She also later launched her own clothing, eyewear and cosmetic range. She is also currently at the helm of a number of television shows on DSTV channel Mzansi Magic.
Elon Musk
Musk is considered by many to be one of the top South African entrepreneurs. As an inventor, the founder of Tesla and co-founder of PayPal, Musk is known for his intense work ethic.
Born in Pretoria in 1971, musk is a world-renowned serial entrepreneur. He began by teaching himself how to program computers at the age of 10. By the age of 12 he had developed and sold the code for a video game he called “Blastar”.
After matriculating from Pretoria Boys High School he moved to Canada and later went on to study in the United States.
He started out by creating a web software company called ZapZin in 1995. This laid the foundation for him when he went on to co-found a financial services and email payment company called X.com, which later merged with Conformity to form PayPal.
Other projects Musk is currently busy with include SpaceX and Solar City.
Anat Apter
Anat Apter is one of the top South African entrepreneurs, and just like many others across the country, she has a unique story to tell.
The entrepreneur branched out on her own in 1991 and began with a food trailer at Bruma Flea Market in Johannesburg. She paid R600 for the mobile unit and sold what she knew best, shwarmas.
She then built a restaurant at the flea market, which eventually grew to a successful brand of stores around the country called “Anat”.