The 2009 Sunday Times Rich List was published recently, unveiling the richest people in South Africa. Lakshmi Mittal, a steel magnate hailing from India, tops the list with investments worth R16,950,000,000. Patrice Motsepe is the richest South African with total investments worth R14-billion, followed by Nicky Oppenheimer with R5.4-billion.<\/p>\n
The Rich List which ranks the 150 wealthiest investors and executives in the country contains numerous telecoms and IT executives. Bill Venter with total investments of R1.518-billion in Altech and Altron is the richest IT investor on the list. Venter is followed by MTN CEO Phuthuma Nhleko with a total investment of R637-million in MTN. <\/p>\n
Brett Levy and Mark Levy, joint CEOs of Blue Label Telecoms, are ranked 36th and 40th with investments of R413-million and R379-million respectively. MTN CFO Robert Nisbet is placed 53rd with an investment of R273-million in MTN while Herbert Theledi’s R207-million Blue Label Telecoms shareholding puts him 73rd on the list.<\/p>\n
Other prominent telecoms and IT executives on the list include MTN’s Sifiso Dabengwa with R204-million (78 th), Jens Montanana with a R182-million investment in Datatec (83 rd), Gijima AST Group Robert Gumede with R181-million (84) and Digicore’s Nick Vlok with a R107-million investment in the company.<\/p>\n
Highest salaries<\/strong><\/p>\n The Sunday Times Rich List also reveals the highest paid executives in the country. Here Chip Goodyear, Former CEO of BHP Billiton plc, tops the list with an annual payment package of R412-million. Norbert Platt from Compagnie Financiere Richemont is second with R53-million and British American Tobacco CEO Paul Adams third with a total pay package of R51-million.<\/p>\n Blue Label Telecoms joint CEOs Brett Levy and Mark Levy are ranked fourth and seventh respectively with total pay packages of R50.3-million and R49.5-million. Diane Radley, former Allied Electronics Corp executive, received R28.5-million which placed her 18th on the list while MTN executive Sifiso Dabengwa is placed 27th with R23.6-million. <\/p>\n MTN CEO Nhleko’s R20-million pay package places him 37th followed closely by Telkom CEO Reuben September at number 40 with R19.1-million. Other IT and telecoms executives on the list include Datatec’s Montanana with R16-million (57th), Didata CEO Brett Dawson with R14.4-million (66th), David Redshaw from Allied Electronics Corp with R12.9-million (75th), former Telkom CEO Papi Molotsane with R12-million and Altech CEO Craig Venter with R11.6-million.<\/p>\n