Embodying what lies at the heart of human resources – valuing people – this year’s annual CHRO Awards were a night of glitz, glamour and gratitude.
Women in sparkling, multicoloured evening gowns or traditional attire and dapper gents in tuxedos set the scene for a lavish evening of celebrating South Africa’s HR leaders. Underpinning it all was the passion that those in human resources bring to their roles and to the people they work with. Hosted at Inanda Club’s stunning Polo Room in Johannesburg on 14 November, the 2024 CHRO Awards ceremony honoured each nominee with their very own trophy.
Hilarious host and MC Nicholas Goliath, who confessed that before becoming a comedian, he’d been a reluctant CA – call centre agent – stressed the importance of working in a job that brings you joy.
Admitting that he was an HR nightmare, Nicholas said: “If you’re not there to make the company better, you shouldn’t be there.” Judging by their genuine excitement and appreciation of one another, it was clear that all the nominees and their teams were exactly where they needed to be.
Amidst laughs, celebrations, delicious food and camaraderie, the warmth that encompassed the evening was palpable. In opening the event, which was compared to both a matric dance and the Oscars, outgoing community manager of CHRO South Africa, Sungula Nkabinde joked that the evening was in fact his farewell party. Sungula will be stepping into a new position as head of communities and community manager for CFO South Africa and his role will be placed in the expert hands of CHRO South Africa’s (now former) managing editor Kgaogelo (KayGee) Letsebe.
Speaking of what being part of CHRO South Africa has meant to him, Sungula said the community has changed his whole outlook on what it means to be happy in a work context. “This community means a lot to me. Tonight, we celebrate those who have excelled in their roles over the last year and it’s really exceptional to see people who care about people within a business context.”
While corporate South Africa may have a reputation for wanting to make money at all costs, Sungula said that when engaging with human capital professionals, a very different picture emerges. “For me, it has been very transformative to engage daily with people who care.”
Making the impossible possible
Attendees were treated to an inspiring performance by professional dancer, choreographer and motivational speaker, Musa Motha, a left-leg amputee on crutches. Speaking to KayGee during a special fireside chat, Musa stressed the importance of believing in second chances.
“My story starts with a boy who is a big dreamer,” he said. Believing he’d be the next Ronaldo, Musa’s soccer dreams were shattered when he was diagnosed with cancer at the age of ten, which was followed by chemotherapy and ultimately a leg amputation to stop the spread of the disease.
“Through chemo and that amputation process, those were chances given by God who said, ‘Musa, I’m changing your life around, this is what I want you to do now’,” he explained.
Musa ultimately found his purpose in dance and music. He began doing dance battles and was soon recognised by South African choreographers which led to castings in television adverts and music videos.
After completing professional dance training, Musa began travelling the world. In 2021 he got a call to work in the United Kingdom and it was there that he became a contestant on Britain’s Got Talent where he reached the grand final, despite previously being cut from the South African equivalent of the show before the televised rounds. “It happened for a reason,” he said. Most recently, Musa performed at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games.
Asked about the origins of his wisdom and maturity to overcome such adversity, he said they were born of the situations he’s encountered in life.
“I’ve seen my life change; I’ve seen Musa then change to Musa today. It’s about simply thinking about the next person, I don’t think about myself anymore. I exist in this world for a purpose, and it’s to heal people and make them believe in second chances.”
Giving a message to those in the CHRO community, he said: “The mere fact that you’re here means you’ve achieved a lot in life so just enjoy and appreciate it.”
Grateful
And appreciate it they did. Palesa Matoli, the executive head of human capital and transformation at Bidvest Bank, who led the bank’s cultural and digital transformation, crucial in solidifying its identity as a business bank took home both the Transformation and Empowerment Award and the Young CHRO of the Year Award. Amid rapturous applause, she thanked her team and God and dedicated her award to her mom.
“When you come from nothing and one day you are something, you are grateful,” she said.
Also a double winner of both the Talent Management Award and the CHRO of the Year Award, S’ne Magagula, the beloved CHRO at Tiger Brands, stressed the importance of people. Thanking her team, she also acknowledged the organisation’s leaders, who “are true believers that people are at the heart of our organisation made up of iconic brands which are loved in households across South Africa”. It is these people who innovate to create these brands, she added.
Rizwana Butler, the group executive of human resources at Capitec Bank, won both the HR and Technology and the Learning and Development awards. The Strategy and Leadership Award went to Colin Smith, who heads up HR at Northam Platinum where he has brought in over 13 000 people.
Annalize van der Waal, the vice president of HR at PepsiCo South Africa took home the Employee Value Proposition Award and said that it was a huge compliment to know she is CHRO at a company that people want to work for.
Unlocking human potential
In presenting the CHRO of the Year Award, Kiv Moodley, the country managing director of Workday South Africa spoke about the unique power of a CHRO in unlocking what has become a popular term today – human potential. “The role of the CHRO is to unlock the hidden potential within your teams,” he said. “When you take that hidden potential, you make it exponential. Not only do you grow your people, but you grow your business.”
In closing the evening’s proceedings. Joel Roerig, CHRO South Africa Managing Director paid tribute to his wife Diana, thanking her for all her support in making building communities like CHRO South Africa possible. He also wished KayGee and Sungula success in their new roles and spoke of plans to take the organisation’s community philosophy wider in the coming year.
This year’s CHRO Awards were held in partnership with Workday, Mercer, Old Mutual, The University of Pretoria’s Gordon Institute of Business Science, MakwaIT and Momentum Corporate. Associate partners were FranklinCovey South Africa and EasyDoc. Table Sponsors included Bidvest Bank, Coca Cola, Drayton Glendower, Nedbank, Pepsico, RMB, Tiger Brands and Transnet.
