The ceremony coincided with the release of BusinessMap's annual publication, BEE 2006: Charters & Deals. The publication includes a feature article, authored by Khehla Shubane, BusinessMap CEO, which compares - for the first time - the commonalities and disparities between the dti Codes of Good Practice, the Financial Service Charter and the Mining Charter.
"The issue of the dti Codes has played a key role in clarifying the government's stance with regards to certain issues, but has also brought some confusion as a result of aspects that differ in the sector charters," says Shubane. "Our analysis attempts both to shed valuable light on the matter and to encourage the implementation of appropriate and sustainable broad-based BEE initiatives.
Speaking at the event, Sim Tshabalala, Standard Bank deputy chief executive: personal & business banking, said that the BusinessMap/Business Report BEE Awards have come a long way since their inception in 1999, having evolved in close parallel to the development of BEE in this country.
"We're delighted at the tremendous support shown by corporate South Africa, as well as the huge importance that is attached to these awards," says Tshabalala. "As key sponsors of the awards and their associated presentation event, this heart-warming response confirms that South African businesses have embraced the concepts of economic transformation and empowerment as business imperatives."
Using stringent criteria and a well-defined points system, entries in seven categories were evaluated by an independent panel led by Sango Ntsaluba, chairman of the BusinessMap Awards Panel and CEO of Amabubesi Investments. Other panel members were Philisiwe Buthelezi, National Empowerment Fund CEO; Heather Sonn, Legae Securities CEO; Arthur Mashiatshidi, Decorum Capital Partners CEO; and Mzi Mgudla of Sonnenberg Hoffman and Galombik.
| Category | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
| Top Commercial Financier | Nedbank Limited | RMB | Absa |
| Top Development Financier | IDC | ||
| Top BEE Market Performer | Metropolitan Holdings Ltd | Brimstone | Enaleni Pharmaceuticals |
| Top BEE Unlisted Company | Mineworkers Investment Company | Sizwe Ntsaluba VSP | Wiphold |
| Most Progressive Established Company | FirstRand | Alexander Forbes | Richards Bay Coal Terminal |
| Deal of the Year | Eyesizwe Consortium & Kumba Resources | Ponahalo & De Beers | Kagiso/WDB/MIC & FirstRand |
| BEE Leader | Gloria Serobe |
Co-ordinated by The BusinessMap Foundation, an NGO which has monitored economic transformation and empowerment in South Africa since 1996, the awards are for corporate organisations and individuals who have made significant contributions to black economic empowerment (BEE) in South Africa. The 2006 BusinessMap/Business Report BEE Awards were sponsored by Standard Bank of South Africa and Anglo American, with Business Report as media partner. Maria Ramos, CEO of Transnet, delivered the keynote address.
