Forbes names ‘most powerful’ in Africa

They are Africa’s movers and shakers, her empire builders, moguls and high-flying chief executives of multinational corporations.

Forbes magazine on Tuesday listed Africa’s 20 most powerful men and women in business. And 12 of them are South African.

There are no surprises in the dozen. Forbes describes Naspers’ CEO Koos Bekker as “The Rupert Murdoch of Africa”. Aside from running Media 24 and DSTV, his company has stakes in global internet companies such as Mail.ru, Buzzcity and a minority shareholding in Facebook.

Nicky Oppenheimer made the list as chairman of the world’s largest producer of rough diamonds.

Absa group’s CEO, Maria Ramos, and ArcelorMittal’s SA chief executive, Nonkululeko Nyembezi-Heita, are the only women who appear on the list.

Other South Africans:

* Marius Kloppers, CEO, BHP Billiton (SA)

* Brian Joffe, CEO, Bidvest Group (SA)

* Jacko Maree, CEO, Standard Bank Group (SA)

* Cyril Ramaphosa, executive chairman, Shanduka Group (SA)

* Raymond Ackerman, founder, Pick n Pay (SA)

* Patrice Motsepe, executive chairman, African Rainbow Minerals (SA)

* Christo Wiese, chairman, Shoprite (SA)

* Maria Ramos, CEO, Absa Group (SA)

* Nonkululeko Nyembezi-Heita, CEO, ArcelorMittal SA (SA)

* Nicky Oppenheimer, chairman, De Beers Group (SA)

* Johann Rupert, chairman, Richemont, Reinet Investments SCA, and Remgro (SA). - The Star