Brand South Africa acting CEO Sithembile Ntombela and Brand Africa founder and chairperson Thebe Ikalafeng hosted the roundtable.

At the event, Brand Africa and Brand SA unveiled the rankings for 2022 Brand Africa | South Africa's Best Brands, based on the 12th annual 2022 global rankings announced last year on Wednesday, 25 May, Africa Day 2022.

According to the ranking, while MTN, the overall most admired African brand, is also the most admired South African brand among all African consumers, challenger brand Bathu is the most admired South African brand among South African consumers.

In the financial services sector, FNB is the most admired South African brand among all African consumers, but Capitec is the number one South African brand among South African consumers.

Among media brands, DStv leads the way as the most admired South African brand by all African and South African consumers. Bathu and Drip, the challenger brands launched less than five years ago, made an entry into the Top 100 brands in the continent, fuelled primarily by their:
  • rapid expansion
  • collaborations, and 
  • extensive communication and media campaigns that extended the brands' reach and appeal beyond their domestic borders.

Portia M was recognised as the most admired women-owned brand. MTN, DStv, Tiger Brands, Shoprite, Bathu, Drip and Clover are the only South African brands in the Top 100 most admired brands in the pan-African list, where African brands account for only 17% of the most admired brands in Africa.

South African brands account for 56% of the most admired African brands, Nigerian brands at 24%, led by Dangote and Ethiopian brands occupy 20% led by Ethiopian Airways. These nations are the pace-setters as leading brand nations in Africa.

In acknowledging the achievements of the South African brands, Sithembile Ntombela, the acting chief executive officer of Brand South Africa, applauded the brands and their significance in building the country brand.

"It is inspiring to see the emergence of new and youthful brands such as Drip, Bathu and Portia M, and the resilience of stalwart corporate brands such as MTN, DStv, Tiger Brands, Shoprite and Clover, which affirm South Africa's credentials as an innovative nation that consistently births brands that contribute to the nation’s competitiveness and reputation globally," says Ntombela.

Ntombela adds, "These brands tell incredible stories of creativity, entrepreneurship and resilience that have established South Africa as a leading economy in Africa,” she said. Brand South Africa is an institutional partner of Brand Africa."

Thebe Ikalafeng, founder and chairperson of Brand Africa, concludes, "Since 2011, Brand Africa has driven a brand-led agenda to re-imagine the continent’s image, reputation and competitiveness. The Brand Africa survey and rankings are undoubtedly a barometer of Africa's progress."

The 2023 Brand Africa 100 | Africa's Best Brands research across 30 countries is now in the field. Brand Africa partners again conducted the research, Geopoll leading the fieldwork, and Kantar and Brand Leadership leading the analysis and rankings.

The results will be released globally on Africa Day and published in the June issue of African Business magazine. For the South African results, Brand Africa has partnered with Sunday World and will release the results in a Sunday World supplement on Sunday, 23 July.

Now in its 13th year, every year on or around Africa Day Brand Africa releases the survey results on the most admired brands in Africa based on a survey across 30 countries representing as much as 85% of the continent's GDP and population.

Individuals can find out about the Brand Africa agenda, initiatives and partners and specifically Brand Africa 100: Africa’s Best Brands Rankings on the brand's website.

Results can be found by following '#BrandAfrica100' and '#AfricasBestBrands'.

For more information, visit www.brand.africa.com. You can also follow Brand Africa on Twitter or on Instagram.