Dr Reuel J Khoza Honoured with Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2025 BPI Iconic Leadership & Excellence Awards
A night of recognition and reflection
The black-tie event acknowledged notable African leaders whose work has had deep and lasting influence. Among this year’s honourees were H.E. President Joaquim Chissano (former President of Mozambique); Ms Basetsana Kumalo, businesswoman and former Miss South Africa; Mr Rassie Erasmus, Springbok coach; Dr Reuel J Khoza, Chairman of Discovery Bank; Ms Martie Janse van Rensburg, Chairperson of the DBSA; Ms Nonhlanhla Mjoli-Mncube, ABSA Board Member and business leader; Mr Sandile Zungu, Chairman of AmaZulu FC; and Mr Karthi Moothsamy, among others.
The evening also featured a keynote address by Edward Kieswetter, the Commissioner of SARS - a highlight that added gravitas to the occasion. His remarks echoed the event’s emphasis on accountability, public service, and ethical governance in South Africa’s institutions.
Dr Khoza’s moment of recognition
Dr Khoza was awarded the BPI Lifetime Achievement Award, a distinction reserved for those whose lifetime efforts reflect visionary, principled leadership and a deep sense of societal responsibility. His presence at the event was fitting: he chaired the audience with quiet dignity before delivering his acceptance address, which became one of the evening’s most resonant moments.
In his remarks, Dr Khoza offered a heartfelt expression of gratitude to the Broad Pool of Ideas (BPI) for creating “a sanctuary for African thought leaders - a space where minds meet not in cacophony, but in contemplative discourse.” He used the platform to issue a clarion call against complacency in leadership, lament the decay of ethical standards in governance, and reignite belief in citizen agency.
“We are a continent rich in potential, yet impoverished in leadership,” he asserted. “The time has come for citizens who do not merely vote, but vigilantly hold power to account. Let us build a republic of conscience where achievement is not the exception, but the expectation.”
Dr Khoza’s acceptance framed the award not as a destination but as a mandate - an impetus to further his life’s work of ethical leadership, intellectual activism, and community upliftment.
Context, legacy, and the BPI mission
Over the course of his career, Dr Khoza has been a prominent voice in South Africa and beyond, advocating for stronger corporate governance, integrity in public life, and the role of business as a force for societal upliftment. His leadership roles in major institutions - from banking to academic and policy forums - have consistently emphasized principle over expediency.
The BPI Iconic Leadership & Excellence Awards are a key component of the BPI Foundation’s vision - not merely to reward leaders but to galvanise a shift toward sustainable, values-based leadership across Africa. Under the 2025 theme, the evening affirmed the belief that Africa’s future lies in aligning excellence with morality, ambition with accountability, and leadership with service.
Attendees departed with more than mementos - they left inspired, challenged, and recommitted to the ideals Dr Khoza and his peers represent. As he aptly reminded all: “the future is not inherited - it is actively co-created.”
BPI Lifetime Achievement Awards Acceptance Speech
For the full version of Dr Khoza’s acceptance speech, both in text and video format click the button below.
About Dr. Reuel Khoza
Distinguished business leader, Africanist, and thought leader with over 45 years of executive experience. Chairman of Discovery Bank, Dzana Investments, and Hlayisani Capital, he has shaped corporate governance in South Africa and beyond. A prolific author and public intellectual, Dr Khoza is Chancellor of the University of KwaZulu-Natal and continues to inspire through his leadership, writings, and contributions to business, academia, and society.