Anthony Fitzhenry, CEO of Axiz, scooped the IT Personality of the Year title at the Computer Society of SA (CSSA) President`s Banquet, held in Sandton last night.
Dr Sebiletso Mokone-Matabane, CEO of Sentech, won the ICT Leadership Award in recognition of her leadership in the broader telecoms sector.
Fitzhenry dedicated his award to the 600 employees at his company, who all share a stake in the business.
Described by the judges as "a social reformist with a deep sense of what is true and fair", Fitzhenry was praised for establishing a standard-setting memory manufacturing plant, for innovation in business management and transformation, as well as community initiatives such as providing bicycles for children in rural areas.
Fitzhenry said he was proud of the South African IT industry and the world-class capabilities of its people. "The greatest accomplishment for our company is to be the leading flash memory maker in the country. We have achieved this when people said it could not be done, that we could not compete against China."
Neville Willemse, consulting manager at Gartner Africa and one of the judges, said: "This is a man who started his company from nothing to become the leading IT manufacturing company in SA. His innovation, management style and commitment to the community at large are exemplary."
Mokone-Matabane, the 2006 ICT Leader, succeeds industry leaders recognised in earlier years: Andile Ngcaba, Alewyn Burger, Ken Jarvis, and last year`s winner professor Basie von Solms, head of the Academy for IT at the University of Johannesburg, from whom she received the award last night.
"This imposes another obligation on me to do more than I`ve done," said Mokone-Matabane.
Other top five finalists were Viola Manuel, executive director of the Cape IT Initiative; Hamilton Ratshefola, CEO of Cornastone Consulting; and Rob Sussman, founder of Integr8 IT.
The judges said "each of our finalists, in their own way, did what everyone said can`t be done" and choosing the winners was a tough decision.
The event also saw Ron Warren receive the CSSA/Johnnic Publishing Fellowship Award. "People always ask when I intend to retire; the answer to that question is simple - when my dreams stop coming true," said the 75-year-old veteran in his acceptance speech.
The CSSA, in association with ITWeb and Gartner Africa, presents the annual IT Personality of the Year Awards, which recognise individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to the growth and development of the South African IT industry over the past year.
Previous recipients include former CEO of Business Connexion Benjamin Mophatlane, in 2002; executive director of Altron and chairman of the ICT empowerment charter working group Dali Mpofu, in 2003; executive chairman of Torque-IT SA Mthunzi Mdwaba, in 2004; and former CIO of the South African Post Office Ntsundeni Madzunya, in 2005.
Share