The richest women in South Africa are some of the most recognized figures in the country. They are looked at as the biggest signs of what women can achieve when empowered. These women do not just advertise themselves as the wealthiest in the country; they also contribute meaningfully to the economy, thus earning the love and admiration of the people in general.

Over the years South Africa has produced several women of wealth and influence, showing that despite some misgivings, the South African society is very fertile and favorable to women who are enterprising and brilliant.

It is important to celebrate these women because by so doing society has examples to show to younger girls, in order to motivate them and tell what can happen when a person is hard working and enterprising.

TOP 10 RICHEST WOMEN IN SOUTH AFRICA 2022

1. Charlize Theron

Despite spending several years in America, Charlize Theron is proud of her South Africaness. She is perhaps the biggest female presence in Hollywood at the moment; certainly the highest paid.

Charlize Theron is an actress, producer, philanthropist and role model. She has a special fund via which she make huge donations to disadvantaged young girls in South Africa and other parts of the world. She is worth around $200 million.

2. Wendy Appelbaum

Wendy Appelbaum ranks highest among South African businesswomen. She is known as a successful business woman, social interventionist and philanthropist whose net worth exceeds $168 Million which is equivalent to R2.6 billion.

Wendy is the only daughter of Late South African billionaire businessman, Donald Gordon who was the founder of Liberty Group. She ran the company for some time, but has since stepped down to pursue other business interests.

Wendy Appelbaum is the Founder and Chairperson of Demorgenzon Wine Estate, a wine and agricultural business which has become quite a big deal not only in South Africa but around the world. She sells about half a million bottles of fine wine; perfectly aged, and fit for those with fine tastes.

She has also established an investment portfolio; however, after it became successful she sold her stake in the company so that disadvantaged women could take her position, and earn a good living for themselves with it.

For her selfless services to humanity, and her intervention to bring social change, she has won several awards, and received recognition.

3. Wendy Ackerman

Wendy Ackerman is the wife of Raymond Ackerman; one of South Africa’s richest men and most notable entrepreneurs. However, she is a brilliant entrepreneur by her own right; with a net worth in excess of $124 Million which is equivalent to 1.9 Billion South Africa Rands.

Wendy Ackerman is believed to have made huge investments in some of her husband’s ventures. Whatever be the case, she is a non executive director of Pick and Pay holdings limited, which was founded by her husband, and which also happens to be the biggest and largest Supermarket chain in Africa.

She is known as a brilliant businesswoman, the first female director of a retail company in South Africa. She has won so much renown over her business career, including a Life Time Achievement award from Forbes.

4. Irene Charnley

Irene Charnley is one of the richest women in South Africa and she is also a notable business person. Her wealth is tied to telecommunications. Irene Charnley is a foremost South African social entrepreneur, and she was also a trade unionist. She is the Co-founder and Chairman of Smile Telecommunication Holding LTD; this is a top provider of Broadband internet.

Irene Charnley has quite a long and distinctive career in communications; she was the Executive Director of the MTN group which is the biggest Telecommunications Company in Africa.

Armed with the experience of running a successful communications company, and with the knowledge of the individual markets of Africa; including Nigeria, Uganda, DR Congo, Tanzania, and South Africa, Irene Charnley went on to establish Smile Telecommunications which has business in the countries mentioned above.

5. Bridgette Radebe

Bridgette Radebe is the queen of the South African mining industry; she is the first black female mining entrepreneur, and she controls a large mining empire. Bridgette Radebe is the founder, Executive Chairman and CEO of Mmakau Mining (Pty) Ltd, one of the biggest blacked owned Mining Companies in Africa, with over 30 years in the market. Her net worth is put at $95 Million.

Bridgette Radebe has a sizable market-share in Gold, Platinum, Uranium, and Coal. Bridgette Radebe is also the President of South Africa Mining Development Association. She is the founder of the New African Mining fund, which is a fund set up to ensure that the mining community is socially responsible.

She has earned much accolades during her career as a business person; including been named as one of the Africa’s most powerful businesswomen. She has also been recognized for her contributions to the mining industry in South Africa.

6. Sharon Wapnick

Sharon Wapnick is one of the top business persons in South Africa; she is one of the biggest property developers in the country. Sharon Wapnick is the daughter of Alec Wapnick; the late founder of Octodec Investments and Premier Properties Ltd. Alec Wapnick died in 2012, but not before teaching his daughter very well about what she needs to succeed as a businesswoman and as a property developer.

Sharon Wapnick has maintained very good control of her father’s businesses; in fact they have continued to thrive under her direction. She is the Senior Partner of Tugendhaft Wapnick Banchetti & Partners which she founded in 2004. She is also the Non-executive Chairman of Octodec Investments Ltd, as well as the Non-executive Chairman of City Property Proprietary Limited.

Sharon Wapnick is notable in the legal scene, and she estimated to have a net worth of $50 Million which is equivalent to 767 Million South African Rands.

7. Elizabeth Bradley

Elizabeth Bradley is the daughter of the late Albert Wessels, the man who brought the Toyota brand to South Africa. She has established herself as a great businesswoman with a vast amount of knowledge and experience; as can be seen from her career which includes directing businesses like Weslo Investments, Toyota group SA.

She also has significant investments in companies like Standard Bank, Rosebank Inn, Anglogold, Hilton Hotel, Tonguaat Hullet, and Savol Company.

Elizabeth Bradley is a well informed businesswoman; she has very good knowledge of the South African economy.

8. Judy Dlamini

Judy Dlamini is one of the biggest black women in South Africa. She is a renowned businesswoman, an author, and an academic. Judy Dlamini is the Chairman of Aspan Pharmacare (a Pharmaceutical Company) as well as Chairman of Mbekani Group ( a Health Investment Company).

Judy Dlamini is also the Chancellor of the University of the Witwatersrand. She has written several best sellers, notable among them being GROW TO BE GREAT: AWESOME AFRICAN ACHIEVERS, and THE OTHER STORY, A Fireside chat with African Achievers.

Judy Dlamini has been named as one of the 50 most powerful women by Forbes. She is also very interested in motivating young South African girls; urging them to be better.

9. Mamphela Ramphele

Mamphela Ramphele is a Businesswoman, Medical Doctor, Politician, and an Academic. She is such an enterprising woman, which is why she has also found time to be an Author and Activist. Mamphela Ramphele is serving as President of the Club of Rome; a Non profit organization that brings businessmen and intellectuals together to fight for social change.

She did not start activism recently; she was one of those who fought Apartheid; in fact she was a partner to legendary anti Apartheid activist Steve Biko. She made her money through her work as an author; although she also has a successful career as an academic; having served as the former Vice Chancellor of the University of Cape Town.

10. Nonhlanhla Mjoli- Mncube

Nonhlanhla Mjoli- Mncube is the founder and Managing Director of Mjoli Development Company (Pty) LTD which is involved in the development of diverse business opportunities. She is also the Chairman of Eziko Investments and the Alpha Network for Women.

Nonhlanhla Mjoli- Mncube is a savvy real estate investor; and she is also a keynote speaker and a role model.

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Closing

A few deaths have reshaped the list of the richest women in South Africa; but those currently listed are no less imposing than those who were on the list previously. South Africa continues to produce women of substance, who can hold their own against any gender in any part of the world.