South Africa is home to some of the most famous and influential women in the world. These women have had a big impact on many areas, including business, journalism, science, government, and social development. These women have not only broken down boundaries, but they have also changed the tale of leadership and achievement in a country that is known for being strong and diverse. These are the ten women in South Africa who have done the best. They really show drive, vision, and effect. They have become leaders in their fields by overcoming challenges and what society expects of them. They are motivating the next generation and helping the country grow and go forward.
This article talks about the 10 most successful women in South Africa, what they have done, how they have affected others, and the routes they have opened up. These women are establishing examples and opening doors for other women in many areas, such as business, science, public service, and entertainment. Their stories are strong, vital, and very timely, especially because we are working for equality between men and women. This well-researched list will help you learn about South African corporate leaders, groundbreaking thinkers, and strong women in politics, as well as how they will be remembered in the future. You can learn about how their leadership, advocacy, and early success are still making a difference in South Africa and other places.
Top Ten Most Successful Women In South Africa
10. Adriana Marais
Adriana Marais is a renowned South African theoretical physicist, quantum biologist, and advocate for space exploration. She holds degrees from the University of Cape Town and the University of KwaZulu-Natal, where she completed her PhD in quantum biology. Her early work focused on studying quantum effects in biological systems, particularly the origin of life. Her groundbreaking research earned her national and international recognition, including awards in science and innovation.
Marais has worked in both academia and the corporate world, previously serving as Head of Innovation at a major global tech company. She is the founder of Proudly Human, an initiative aimed at preparing humanity for life in extreme environments, both on Earth and beyond. This includes leading off-grid habitation experiments in harsh conditions such as deserts and polar regions. Her goal is to apply these learnings to improve living conditions in underserved communities while also contributing to space readiness.
She also serves as a director at various scientific and development foundations focused on space in Africa. Marais’s influence extends beyond science—she is shaping the narrative around African innovation and global participation in space exploration. Her leadership inspires many in science, technology, and sustainable development.
9. Sibongile Sambo
Sibongile Sambo is a trailblazing entrepreneur and aviation executive who made history by founding the first black female-owned aviation company in South Africa. Raised in Mpumalanga, she was passionate about flying from a young age but was denied entry into flight school due to physical requirements. Rather than giving up, she chose to create her own opportunities in the aviation industry.
With an academic background in administration and industrial psychology, Sambo secured a loan to start SRS Aviation in 2004. Despite facing challenges in a male-dominated field, her business quickly grew, offering charter flights, cargo services, medical evacuations, and more. Within two years, the company earned an operating certificate and began serving clients across government and private sectors.
Beyond her business success, Sambo has focused on mentorship and empowerment. She has actively supported the training of female pilots and engineers, pushing for more inclusion in aviation and aerospace. She also sits on key advisory boards that promote black economic empowerment in South Africa.
Sibongile Sambo’s journey is one of perseverance, resilience, and vision. She turned rejection into motivation, built a successful aviation empire from scratch, and became a powerful voice for gender and racial equality in South African business.
8. Nneile Nkholise
Nneile Nkholise is a South African mechanical engineer turned biotech pioneer whose work bridges health innovation and agri-tech. She grew up in Thaba Nchu and holds degrees in mechanical engineering, including a master’s. Starting her career in public works in 2011, she shifted focus in 2015 to co-found a technology company that employs CAD and 3D printing to create custom medical prosthetics. Her flagship product, breast prostheses for cancer survivors, quickly drew acclaim, earning continental awards and recognition as one of Forbes Africa’s 30 Under 30. She also received a presidential accolade for excellence in science and technology.
In 2018, Nkholise co-founded 3DIMO, a platform that uses imaging and modeling to improve livestock health tracking. By automating data analysis for animal farmers, she is bringing transparency and efficiency to African agriculture. She has been named Africa’s top female innovator by the World Economic Forum and holds fellowships in continental entrepreneurship networks for her commitment to youth and female leadership.
Nkholise continues to mentor young women in STEM and is dedicated to developing solutions that serve underserved communities. Her journey from public infrastructure to biotech and agri-tech shows how engineering can be channeled to solve multiple societal challenges and drive inclusive innovation.
7. Ntsiki Biyela
Ntsiki Biyela stands out as South Africa’s first Black female professional winemaker and the founder of her own wine label. Raised in a rural village in KwaZulu‑Natal, she worked as a domestic helper before earning a scholarship to study viticulture and oenology at Stellenbosch University. Despite language barriers and a lack of wine culture in her upbringing, she flourished and became the first Black female to hold a head winemaker position at a Cape winery in 2004. Her first red wine earned a gold medal and she was named South African Woman Winemaker of the Year in 2009.
In 2017, Biyela launched Aslina, her boutique label named after her grandmother. Producing varietals such as chardonnay, sauvignon, cabernet sauvignon and a Bordeaux blend, her wines have won international awards. More than wine production, she takes a people‑centered approach, describing flavors in familiar terms and mentoring aspiring vintners. She also serves on the board of a youth development academy in the Cape Winelands, helping disadvantaged communities enter the wine industry.
Biyela’s journey—from domestic worker to award‑winning winemaker and mentor—reflects resilience, culture, and leadership. She transformed a traditionally exclusive industry into a space of inclusion and inspiration for future generations.
6. DJ Zinhle (Ntombezinhle Jiyane)
DJ Zinhle is a powerhouse in South Africa’s entertainment and business scene. Widely known as one of the country’s top female DJs, she has built an empire that stretches beyond music into fashion, beauty, and lifestyle branding. Her journey began in the early 2000s when she entered the male-dominated DJ industry and steadily gained popularity with her infectious mixes and live performances. Over time, she became a staple on radio, in nightclubs, and at major events both locally and internationally.
Her entrepreneurial vision expanded with the launch of Era by DJ Zinhle, a fashion accessories brand that now includes watches, eyewear, and handbags. She later ventured into interior design with Jiyane Atelier, a bespoke furniture line, and then introduced a sparkling wine brand. Each business showcases her keen understanding of branding, consumer engagement, and strategic partnerships.
DJ Zinhle is also active in mentorship, especially for women in entertainment and business. She has been featured on multiple business leadership panels and was named one of the most influential women in Africa. Her ability to combine creativity with enterprise places her among the most successful women in South Africa, with a brand built on innovation, resilience, and cultural impact.
5. Wendy Appelbaum
Wendy Appelbaum is one of South Africa’s most successful businesswomen and philanthropists, known for her strategic influence in finance, health, and social development. As the daughter of prominent businessman Donald Gordon, she was exposed to the world of corporate leadership early in life. However, she has built her own reputation by leading investment ventures and supporting women’s empowerment through entrepreneurship.
Appelbaum formerly served as a director at a major private hospital group and co-founded an investment company focused on increasing female participation in South African business. She later purchased DeMorgenzon Wine Estate, where she has grown an award-winning wine brand while prioritizing ethical labor practices and environmental sustainability. Her leadership has contributed to significant job creation and innovation in the agricultural sector.
Beyond business, she has donated millions to education, health research, and nonprofit initiatives. She chairs and supports numerous organizations working to reduce gender inequality, improve healthcare, and promote ethical leadership. Her influence reaches into policy, philanthropy, and enterprise. Wendy Appelbaum represents a model of responsible wealth, using resources and expertise to uplift communities and shift corporate dynamics toward greater inclusivity and long-term social benefit.
4. Magda Wierzycka
Magda Wierzycka is a self-made billionaire, business executive, and one of the most influential voices in South African finance. Born in Poland and raised in South Africa, she built her fortune from humble beginnings. After graduating with a degree in actuarial science, she worked her way up in the financial services sector, eventually founding Sygnia Asset Management. Under her leadership, Sygnia became one of South Africa’s fastest-growing asset management firms, known for its transparency, low fees, and focus on innovation.
Wierzycka’s outspokenness on corruption and corporate governance has made her a leading figure in the country’s anti-corruption movement. She uses her platform to challenge unethical practices in government and the private sector, earning respect and criticism in equal measure. Her boldness has made her a regular commentator in media and a trusted voice for accountability and reform.
In addition to her corporate work, she actively supports female education and entrepreneurship. She is involved in various mentorship and scholarship programs aimed at closing the gender gap in business and STEM fields. Magda Wierzycka’s rise is a testament to integrity, innovation, and fearless leadership in an industry where transparency is often rare.
3. Irene Charnley
Irene Charnley is a highly respected businesswoman and social entrepreneur who has significantly influenced South Africa’s telecommunications and infrastructure landscape. Beginning her career as a trade unionist with the National Union of Mineworkers, she quickly rose to prominence due to her strategic thinking and ability to negotiate large-scale transformations. She later transitioned into the corporate world, joining a leading investment firm where she helped secure lucrative deals in the telecommunications industry.
Charnley played a critical role in expanding MTN’s operations across Africa and the Middle East, a move that turned the company into one of the continent’s biggest telecom providers. Her leadership in these international expansions brought South African business into the global spotlight. Later, she became the CEO of the Smile Telecoms Group, continuing her work in delivering affordable internet and mobile access across emerging markets.
In addition to her corporate impact, she is dedicated to empowering small business owners and previously led initiatives that allowed thousands of low-income South Africans to become shareholders in major companies. Her work demonstrates a unique blend of business expertise and social responsibility. Irene Charnley is a force behind economic transformation and connectivity on both a national and continental scale.
2. Precious Moloi-Motsepe
Precious Moloi-Motsepe is a medical doctor, entrepreneur, and global philanthropist who has successfully combined fashion, education, and social impact. She began her career in medicine, specializing in women’s health before shifting focus to economic empowerment and cultural promotion. As the founder of African Fashion International, she has elevated African designers to the global stage by organizing fashion weeks and business development platforms that support talent across the continent.
Moloi-Motsepe is also known for her role in philanthropy. Alongside her husband, she co-founded the Motsepe Foundation, which invests in education, health, and social inclusion. Through this foundation, she has helped fund scholarships, youth development programs, and initiatives aimed at reducing poverty. Her appointment as Chancellor of a leading South African university further emphasizes her commitment to transforming education and leadership in the country.
She is regularly featured on lists of the most influential women in Africa due to her ability to bridge industries—whether it’s luxury fashion or humanitarian work. Her influence is especially notable in how she uses business as a platform for change. Precious Moloi-Motsepe exemplifies modern leadership by weaving cultural excellence, compassion, and innovation into everything she does.
1. Mpumi Madisa
Mpumi Madisa holds the distinction of being the first Black female CEO of the Bidvest Group, one of South Africa’s largest and most diversified conglomerates. Her appointment was a landmark moment for gender and racial equality in corporate South Africa. She took over the leadership of the multibillion-rand company in 2020 after years of internal progression and leadership development within Bidvest. Her role spans oversight of operations in sectors such as services, automotive, industrial products, logistics, and financial services.
Madisa holds degrees in economics and mathematics, and her strategic thinking has been central to Bidvest’s resilience and expansion during challenging economic conditions. Her focus on digital transformation, operational excellence, and people-centered leadership has earned her widespread recognition. She also champions supplier development programs and actively encourages investment in youth and women-led enterprises across the company’s supply chains.
What sets Madisa apart is not just her role as a trailblazer in corporate leadership, but her emphasis on inclusive business growth. She consistently highlights the need for responsible capitalism that balances profitability with social progress. As a role model and executive, Mpumi Madisa stands at the pinnacle of leadership in South Africa—representing the future of ethical and diverse corporate excellence.
