10 oldest publicly listed companies in South Africa

South Africa’s equity market tells one of the most enduring corporate stories in emerging markets. 

Founded in 1887 during the gold rush, the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) has grown into Africa’s largest bourse, with a market capitalization of R24 trillion ($1.47 trillion). Yet beyond size, its real legacy lies in longevity.

A handful of companies have remained listed across more than a century, surviving the Second Boer War, the Great Depression, apartheid-era sanctions, and South Africa’s democratic transition in 1994. These firms reflect the country’s economic evolution, from gold mining dominance to diversified industrial, financial, and consumer giants.

These ten companies are more than just long-standing listings; they are living records of South Africa’s economic evolution. 

From gold mines to global finance and consumer goods, they illustrate how resilience, adaptation, and strategic transformation define corporate longevity. As newer firms list on the JSE, the question remains: which of today’s companies will still be trading a century from now? 

This list focuses on companies with deep listing histories on the JSE, emphasizing continuity rather than founding dates alone. 

From century-old gold producers to modern multinationals, these ten companies offer a lens into how South Africa’s corporate landscape was built, and how it continues to adapt in a rapidly shifting global economy.

1. DRDGOLD
Incorporated on February 16, 1895
Market capitalization: R31.2 billion ($1.93 billion)
Rank: 65th most valuable stock on the JSE
DRDGOLD Limited (formerly Durban Roodepoort Deep) stands as the oldest continuously listed company on the JSE, dating back to 1895, before automobiles became mainstream. Rooted in Johannesburg’s gold rush era, it has reinvented itself from deep-level mining to surface gold tailings retreatment. Its survival reflects operational flexibility and cost discipline, especially through commodity downturns and regulatory shifts. DRDGOLD remains a direct link to the JSE’s mining origins, embodying how legacy firms adapt to remain relevant more than a century later.

2. AECI Limited (1896)
Market capitalization: R13.3 billion ($821.12 million)
Rank: 101st most valuable stock on the JSE
Founded in 1896, AECI Limited evolved from supplying explosives to gold mines into a diversified chemicals and industrial solutions group of 17 companies. Its long-standing JSE presence reflects its ability to pivot across sectors, from mining inputs to agriculture and specialty chemicals. AECI endured major disruptions including global wars and domestic industrial shifts, repositioning itself as a modern solutions provider. Its resilience underscores how industrial firms transitioned alongside South Africa’s broader economic diversification.

3. Pretoria Portland Cement Company (PPC)
Market capitalization: R12.38 billion ($764.35 million)
Pretoria Portland Cement Company, listed in 1910, played a foundational role in South Africa’s infrastructure development. From early urban expansion to post-apartheid reconstruction, PPC has supplied materials critical to nation-building. Its endurance reflects strategic regional expansion beyond South Africa into the rest of Africa. Despite cyclical construction demand and competitive pressures, PPC remains a symbol of industrial continuity tied closely to the country’s economic growth cycles.

4. Anglo American plc (1917)
Market capitalization: R960 billion ($59.27 billion)
Rank: currently the seventh most valuable stock on the JSE
Founded in 1917, Anglo American plc became one of the world’s largest mining houses. Its dual-listed structure maintains strong ties to the JSE while operating globally. Anglo American survived commodity price collapses, geopolitical shifts, and regulatory transitions, evolving into a diversified miner spanning platinum, diamonds, and iron ore. Its scale and influence helped shape South Africa’s industrial economy, making it one of the most globally significant companies with roots on the JSE.

5. Sappi Limited (1937)
Market capitalization: R5.65 billion ($348.84 million)
Rank: 146th most valuable stock on the JSE
Sappi Limited, listed in 1937, transitioned from traditional paper manufacturing into a global pulp and packaging solutions company. Its longevity reflects adaptation to declining paper demand and the rise of sustainable materials. Sappi expanded internationally, reducing reliance on domestic markets. Its evolution highlights how legacy industrial firms have repositioned for relevance in a digital and environmentally conscious global economy.

6. Tiger Brands (1944)
Market capitalization: R49.5 billion ($3.06 billion)
Rank: 50th most valuable  stock on the JSE
Tiger Brands Limited, listed in 1944, is one of Africa’s largest food producers. Its portfolio includes household staples that have remained relevant across generations. The company’s endurance reflects strong brand equity and adaptation to changing consumer trends. Tiger Brands weathered economic downturns and evolving regulatory environments, maintaining its position as a key player in South Africa’s consumer sector.

7. Old Mutual Limited
Market capitalization: R60.4 billion ($3.73 billion)
Rank: 41st most valuable  stock on the JSE
With origins dating back to 1845, Old Mutual Limited formally listed in its modern structure in 1999 following demutualization. Its deep historical roots and continued market presence make it one of the most enduring financial institutions linked to the JSE. Old Mutual expanded across Africa and internationally, navigating regulatory reforms and market volatility while maintaining its core insurance and investment businesses.

8. Remgro Limited
Market capitalization: R104 billion ($6.42 billion)
Rank: 29th most valuable stock on the JSE
Remgro Limited traces its origins to the Rembrandt Group in the 1940s and later evolved into a major investment holding company. Listed in its modern structure, Remgro has built a diversified portfolio spanning healthcare, financial services, and industrials. Its longevity is tied to disciplined capital allocation and strategic investments, reflecting how holding companies have shaped South Africa’s corporate landscape.

9. Standard Bank Group
Market capitalization: R534 billion ($32.97 billion)
Rank: 12th most valuable stock on the JSE
Founded in 1862, Standard Bank Group is one of Africa’s largest financial institutions and a long-standing JSE constituent. Its continuous listing in modern form reflects resilience through colonial expansion, apartheid-era restrictions, and post-1994 transformation. With a strong pan-African footprint, Standard Bank exemplifies how financial institutions anchored South Africa’s economic development while adapting to global banking trends.

10. Nedbank Group (Origins 1888)
Market capitalization: R131 billion ($808.85 million)
Rank:  25th most valuable stock on the JSE
Nedbank Group traces its origins to 1888, emerging during the early expansion of South Africa’s financial system alongside the gold-driven economy. Though listed later in its modern structure, the bank has maintained a long-standing presence on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. Nedbank’s resilience lies in navigating political transitions, regulatory reforms, and financial crises, while evolving into a major pan-African banking player with strong corporate, retail, and investment banking operations.