Celebrating Excellence: Highlights from the 2024 BBQ Awards at Emperors Palace

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On Friday, July 26, 2024, South Africa’s premier black business leadership gathered at the Emperors Palace in Kempton Park, Gauteng, for the 21st Annual Black Business Quarterly (BBQ) Awards and Gala Dinner. Established by Cape Media Corporation, the BBQ Awards are the country’s longest-running and most prestigious showcase, honouring transformation, corporate governance, entrepreneurial resilience, and industrial leadership among black-owned and empowered enterprises.

What Was the Event About?

Held during the milestone 30th year of South African democracy, the 2024 BBQ Awards went beyond celebrating individual corporate milestones; the evening served as an accountability and empowerment platform for inclusive economic transformation.

The ceremony recognizes pioneers across ten competitive categories—including the New Entrepreneur Award (NYDA), Businesswoman of the Year (IDC), New and Innovative Business Award (Mercedes-Benz), Digital Transformation Award, and Best Established Black Business. Each category benchmarks excellence, demonstrating that transformation is about high-performance capability, sovereign job creation, and sustainable commercial value.

Key Highlights from the Evening

Keynote Address by Deputy President Paul Mashatile: Deputy President Paul Mashatile delivered the keynote address, outlining South Africa's strategic priorities for the new administration: driving inclusive economic growth, accelerating job creation, and fostering deep industrial collaboration between the public sector and private enterprise.
High-Level Dignitaries & Industry Leaders: The gala brought together leading figures in governance and commerce, including Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi, Deputy Minister Mondli Gungubele, B-BBEE Commissioner Tshediso Matona, and BBQ Magazine Editor Prof. Onkgopotse JJ Tabane.
Dynamic Programme Leadership: Renowned media personality Somizi Mhlongo served as Programme Director, steering an evening of celebration, live entertainment, and high-energy networking among South Africa’s industrial pioneers.
Spotlight on Innovation and Local Value Addition: A recurring theme across award categories was the transition from service-based procurement to advanced manufacturing, science-led enterprises, and digital disruption.

Special Innoeco Moment: Meeting Deputy President Paul Mashatile

A defining highlight of the gala for Innoeco was the opportunity for co-founder Mendhi Dasram to meet and engage directly with Deputy President Paul Mashatile.

As an emerging formulation laboratory and CRDO partner, moments like this represent the convergence of high-level economic policy and ground-level science innovation. Having leadership acknowledge the next generation of founders pushing the boundaries of domestic chemical, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical manufacturing provides tremendous encouragement for Innoeco's long-term sovereign manufacturing vision.