# List of companies of South Africa

South Africa is the southernmost country in Africa. It is the 25th-largest country in the world by land area, and with close to 60 million people, is the world's 24th-most populous nation.
The World Bank classifies South Africa as an upper-middle-income economy, and a newly industrialised country. Its economy is the largest in Africa, and the 34th-largest in the world. In terms of purchasing power parity, South Africa has the seventh-highest per capita income in Africa. However, poverty and inequality remain widespread, with about a quarter of the population unemployed and living on less than US$1.25 a day. Nevertheless, South Africa has been identified as a middle power in international affairs, and maintains significant regional influence.
For further information on the types of business entities in this country and their abbreviations, see "Business entities in South Africa".

## Largest companies

| Name | Founded | Industry | Revenue (2018) | Headquarters | Market Value (2018) |
| Anglo American | 1917 | Diversified Metals & Mining | $27.6 billion | Johannesburg | $35.9 billion |
| Sasol | 1950 | Chemicals | $14.8 billion | Sandton | $21 billion |
| Shoprite Holdings | 1979 | Food Retail | $11 billion | Brackenfell | $7 billion |
| MTN Group | 1994 | Telecommunications | $10 billion | Randburg | $13.5 billion |
| Absa Group Limited | 1991 | Banking | $9.7 billion | Johannesburg | $9.9 billion |
| Standard Bank Group | 1862 | Banking | $9.6 billion | Johannesburg | $22.9 billion |
| Bidvest | 1988 | Investment Services | $9.4 billion | Sandton | $7.2 billion |
| Sanlam | 1918 | Life & Health Insurance | $8.9 billion | Bellville | $12.4 billion |
| Old Mutual | 1845 | Insurance | $8.2 billion | Sandton | $8.3 billion |
| Nedbank | 1888 | Banking | $7.7 billion | Sandton | $9.4 billion |
| FirstRand | 1838 | Banking | $7.6 billion | Sandton | $27.2 billion |
| Naspers | 1915 | Broadcasting | $6.9 billion | Cape Town | $111.3 billion |
| Vodacom | 1994 | Telecommunications | $6.5 billion | Midrand | $9.6 billion |
| Mondi | 1967 | Paper & Paper Products | $8.8 billion | Johannesburg | $10.9 billion |
| MMI Holdings Limited | 1898 | Life & Health Insurance | $6.1 billion | Centurion | $1.8 billion |
| Investec | 1974 | Investment Services | $6 billion | Sandton | $6.3 billion |
| Telkom | 1910 | Telecommunications | $3 billion | Centurion | $3.8 billion |
| Remgro | 1948 | Conglomerates | $2 billion | Stellenbosch | $10.1 billion |

## Notable firms

This list includes notable companies with primary headquarters located in the country. The industry and sector follow the Industry Classification Benchmark taxonomy. Organizations which have ceased operations are included and noted as defunct.
Notable companies Status: P=Private, S=State; A=Active, D=Defunct :
| Name | Industry | Sector | Headquarters | Founded | Notes | Status | Status |
| Adcock Ingram | Health care | Pharmaceuticals | Midrand | 1891 | Healthcare products | P | A |
| Afrihost | Telecommunications | Fixed line telecommunications | Sandton | 2000 | ISP | P | A |
| Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) | Industrials | Transportation services | Bedfordview | 1993 | Airport management | P | A |
| Anglo American | Basic materials | General mining | Johannesburg | 1917 | Mining | P | A |
| Anglo American Platinum | Basic materials | General mining | Johannesburg | 1995 | Mining, part of Anglo American | P | A |
| Aspen Pharmacare | Health care | Pharmaceuticals | uMhlanga | 1850 | Drug company | P | A |
| Automobile Association of South Africa | Consumer services | Specialized consumer services | Midrand | 1930 | Automotive services | P | A |
| ABSA Group | Financials | Banks | Johannesburg | 1991 | Banking and investments | P | A |
| Beekman Group | Real estate | Real Estate Investment and Services | Port Shepstone | 1970 | property developer | P | A |
| Business Connexion Group | Technology | Software | Centurion | 1979 | I/T | P | A |
| Capitec Bank | Financials | Banks | Stellenbosch | 2001 | Bank | P | A |
| Cell C | Telecommunications | Mobile telecommunications | Randburg | 2001 | Mobile network | P | A |
| Checkers | Consumer services | Food retailers & wholesalers | Brackenfell | 1956 | Supermarkets, part of Shoprite since 1991 | P | A |
| Cognician | Consumer services | Education Services | Cape Town | 2010 | e-learning platform | P | A |
| De Beers | Basic materials | General mining | Johannesburg | 1995 | Mining | P | A |
| Defy Appliances | Manufacturing & services | Appliances | Durban | 1905 | | P | A |
| De Haan's Bus & Coach | Industrials | Commercial vehicles & trucks | Cape Town | 1951 | Bus manufacturer | P | A |
| Dimension Data | Technology | Software | Sandton | 1983 | Software and services | P | A |
| e.tv | Consumer services | Broadcasting & entertainment | Cape Town | 1998 | Television | P | A |
| Eskom | Utilities | Conventional electricity | Sandton | 1923 | Electrical producer and distribution | S | A |
| Exxaro | Basic materials | Coal | Centurion | 2006 | Coal mining | P | A |
| Food Lover's Market | Consumer services | Food retailers & wholesalers | Brackenfell | 1993 | Food Retailer | P | A |
| First National Bank | Financials | Banks | Johannesburg | 1838 | Bank, part of First Rand | P | A |
| First Rand | Financials | Banks | Johannesburg | 1998 | Bank | P | A |
| FNB Connect | Telecommunications | Fixed line telecommunications | Johannesburg | 2009 | ISP, part of First National Bank | P | A |
| Gallo Record Company | Consumer services | Broadcasting & entertainment | Johannesburg | 1926 | Record label, part of Times Media Group | P | A |
| Gijima Group | Technology | Telecommunications equipment | Centurion | 1998 | Communications technology | P | A |
| Gold Fields | Basic materials | Gold mining | Sandton | 1998 | Gold mining | P | A |
| Golden Arrow Bus Services | Consumer services | Travel & tourism | Cape Town | 1863 | Public transportation | P | A |
| gTool | Manufacturing | Production Technology Equipment | Pretoria | 2013 | Mobile repair tools | P | A |
| H Pistorius & Co | Basic materials | Lime mining | Pretoria | 1944 | Agricultural lime | P | A |
| Harmony Gold | Basic materials | Gold mining | Johannesburg | 1950 | Gold mining | P | A |
| Hollard Group | Financials | Full line insurance | Johannesburg | 1980 | Private insurance | P | A |
| Illovo Sugar | Consumer goods | Food products | uMhlanga | 1891 | Sugar | P | A |
| Impala Platinum | Basic materials | General mining | Johannesburg | 1973 | Mining and refining | P | A |
| Kumba Iron Ore | Basic materials | Iron & steel | Centurion | 2001 | Iron mining | P | A |
| Investec | Financials | Banks | Sandton | 1974 | Banking and investments | P | A |
| LIFE Healthcare Group | Health care | Health care providers | Randburg | 1983 | Hospitals | P | A |
| Mathews & Associates Architects | Industrials | Business support services | Pretoria | 2000 | Architecture | P | A |
| Mediclinic International | Health care | Health care providers | Stellenbosch | 1983 | Hospitals | P | A |
| M-Net | Consumer services | Broadcasting & entertainment | Randburg | 1986 | Television | P | A |
| Mr. Price Group Ltd. | Retail | Clothing, home and sport goods | Durban | 1985 | | P | A |
| MTN Group | Telecommunications | Fixed line telecommunications | Johannesburg | 1994 | Multinational telecom | P | A |
| MultiChoice | Consumer services | Broadcasting & entertainment | Randburg | 1996 | Entertainment and broadcasting | P | A |
| MWEB | Telecommunications | Fixed line telecommunications | Cape Town | 1997 | ISP | P | A |
| Naspers | Consumer services | Broadcasting & entertainment | Cape Town | 1915 | Media group | P | A |
| Nedbank | Financials | Banks | Sandton | 1888 | Bank | P | A |
| Neotel | Telecommunications | Fixed line telecommunications | Midrand | 2006 | ISP | P | A |
| Netcare | Health care | Health care providers | Sandton | 1996 | Hospitals, part of General Healthcare Group (UK) | P | A |
| Nu Metro Cinemas | Consumer services | Recreational services | Randburg | 1932 | Cinemas | P | A |
| Old Mutual | Financials | Asset managers | Johannesburg | 1845 | Asset management and insurance | P | A |
| Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa | Industrials | Railroads | Johannesburg | 1990 | Railroads | S | A |
| PetroSA | Oil & gas | Exploration & production | Cape Town | 1965 | State-owned oil | S | A |
| Pick 'n Pay | Consumer services | Food retailers & wholesalers | Cape Town | 1967 | Supermarket chain | P | A |
| Pioneer Foods | Consumer goods | Food products | Bellville | 1997 | Packaged goods | P | A |
| PPC Ltd. | Industrials | Building materials & fixtures | Pretoria | 1892 | Cement | P | A |
| Premier FMCG | Consumer goods | Food products | Midrand | 1820 | Packaged foods | P | A |
| Primedia | Consumer services | Broadcasting & entertainment | Sandton | 1994 | Media holding group | P | A |
| Primedia Broadcasting | Consumer services | Broadcasting & entertainment | Sandton | 1994 | Radio, news, part of Primedia | P | A |
| PUTCO | Consumer services | Travel & tourism | Sandton | 1945 | Public transportation | P | A |
| RCL Foods | Consumer goods | Food products | Westville | 1960 | Primarily packaged foods | P | A |
| Retief, de Ville & Co. | Industrials | Commercial vehicles and trucks | Paarl | ca. 1880 | Coaches | P | A |
| Rovos Rail | Industrials | Railroads | Pretoria | 1989 | Rail | P | A |
| South African Broadcasting Corporation | Consumer services | Broadcasting & entertainment | Johannesburg | 1936 | State broadcasting | S | A |
| South African Airways | Consumer services | Airlines | Kempton Park | 1934 | Airline | S | A |
| Sanlam | Financials | Asset managers | Bellville | 1918 | Asset management and insurance | P | A |
| Sappi | Basic materials | Paper | Johannesburg | 1936 | Paper | P | A |
| Sasol | Oil & gas | Exploration & production | Sandton | 1950 | Refining | P | A |
| Shoprite | Consumer services | Food retailers & wholesalers | Brackenfell | 1979 | Food retailer | P | A |
| South African Breweries | Consumer goods | Brewers | Sandton | 1895 | Brewery, part of Anheuser-Busch InBev (Belgium) | P | A |
| South African Post Office | Industrials | Delivery services | Pretoria | 1991 | Postal services | S | A |
| Standard Bank | Financials | Banks | Johannesburg | 1862 | Banks | P | A |
| StarSat, South Africa | Consumer services | Broadcasting & entertainment | Midrand | 2010 | Part of StarTimes (China) | P | A |
| Ster-Kinekor | Consumer services | Recreational services | Sandton | 1969 | Cinemas | P | A |
| Telkom | Telecommunications | Fixed line telecommunications | Centurion | 1991 | Telecom | P | A |
| Telkom Mobile | Telecommunications | Mobile telecommunications | Centurion | 2010 | Mobile GSM, part of Telkom | P | A |
| Tiger Brands | Consumer goods | Food products | Sandton | 1921 | Primarily packaged foods | P | A |
| Times Media Group | Consumer services | Publishing | Johannesburg | 2012 | Publisher | P | A |
| Tongaat Hulett | Consumer goods | Food products | oThongathi | 1892 | Sugar | P | A |
| Transnet National Ports Authority | Industrials | Transportation services | Johannesburg | 2005 | Ports | S | A |
| Transnet | Industrials | Transportation services | Johannesburg | 1990 | Ports and rail | S | A |
| Travelstart | Consumer services | Travel & tourism | Cape Town | 1999 | Travel booking | P | A |
| Union Carriage & Wagon | Industrials | Commercial vehicles & trucks | Nigel | 1957 | Rolling stock manufacturer | P | A |
| Vodacom | Telecommunications | Mobile telecommunications | Midrand | 1994 | Mobile network, part of Vodafone (UK) | P | A |
| Wesizwe Platinum | Basic materials | General mining | Johannesburg | 2003 | Mining | P | A |
| Wootware | Retail | Computer hardware retailer | Cape Town | 2007 | | P | A |
| Woolworths | Consumer services | Broadline retailers | Cape Town | 1931 | Retail stores | P | A |
* The JSE.
* Pear exports in the Ceres valley.
* Canal Walk shopping centre in Cape Town.
* The Tiger Oats building in Moorreesburg, previously home to Tiger Brands.