Berman Brothers Win Investec Business Leadership Award
Paul and Saul Berman receive the honour at the 2026 Investec Jewish Achiever Awards for decades of construction and property development.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Construction
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Investec has awarded Paul and Saul Berman the Investec Business Leadership Award at the 2026 Investec Jewish Achiever Awards. The brothers have spent decades in construction and property development, and Saul has announced plans to build the biggest educational foundation in South African history.
Why it matters
The award recognises a long-running business partnership that grew from a single airport contract into thousands of homes built across the Western Cape. The brothers' plans for a large educational foundation point to a focus on skills training for pupils who struggle in conventional academic settings.
The brothers' company turnover rose from R3.5 million to R35 million in their first year working together, according to figures cited in the award coverage. The source does not provide current turnover or the scale of the proposed educational foundation's budget.
The players
Investec
Investec is a South African-founded financial services group that has partnered with the Berman brothers for more than three decades.
Paul Berman
Paul Berman is a South African construction and property developer who has spent decades involved in Jewish welfare.
Saul Berman
Saul Berman is a South African construction and property developer who announced plans for a major educational foundation.
The details
Saul Berman secured a contract to upgrade Cape Town International Airport ahead of the 1995 Rugby World Cup and then invited his brother Paul to join the business. The partnership was built without formal written agreements and has since expanded into property development.
Timeline
Paul and Saul's father died when Paul was five and Saul was two-and-a-half.
In 1994, Saul invited Paul to join his construction business.
In 1995, the Cape Town airport upgrade was completed ahead of the Rugby World Cup.
In 2026, the brothers received the Investec Business Leadership Award.
Industry Context
The brothers' proposal to introduce practical subjects from Grade 9 extends the debate over when South African pupils should begin considering vocational pathways. Their construction background places the proposal within a sector that depends on trained artisans and skilled trades.
The proposed practical subjects from Grade 9 would give pupils earlier exposure to vocational pathways if the plan is adopted. Families considering trade careers for their children would gain an additional option within the school system.
The takeaway
Long-term partnerships built on trust, rather than formal contracts, can grow a business from a single project into a regional builder. The brothers' focus on practical skills suggests that pathways beyond conventional academics deserve equal attention.
Further reading
For more on the sector behind the award, see Construction coverage across South Africa.
Source note: This article includes information reported by SA Jewish Report.
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Should South African schools teach more practical trade skills alongside academic subjects?
