YOUR CHOICE
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EDITOR’S MESSAGE THANK YOU VOTERS!
IT’S that exciting time of the year once again as we count down to the festive season known for merriment and celebrations. It’s also time for the Daily News Your Choice Awards where we announce, congratulate and celebrate the top brands in our beautiful province.
I would like to thank all the organisers, the participating brands, our readers, our advertisers and all other stakeholders who have contributed to making the awards another great success this year. Your support is greatly appreciated. But most of all, I must thank the voters who each year perform the difficult job of rating the various wonderful brands that make up our economy –leaving the Editor with a simple job of announcing and congratulating the winners.
With the economy showing some green shoots and the interest rates coming down, a new positive business cycle has begun. As we wrap up this year of great change, we can look towards 2025 with greater hope for more economic growth. Those who work hard and invest wisely should
expect great returns next year. But first, let’s look back at the past year and see which brands have come out top of the pops.
As Durban’s “people’s paper”, it is only fitting for the Daily News to host the awards announcing and parading our top, popular local brands.
The Daily News Your Choice Awards is the public’s endorsement of the brands – as judged by those who consume their products and services and interact with the companies behind them. It’s about consumers and stakeholders giving businesses their report cards and saying “keep up the good work”. I would like to congratulate all the brands and businesses appearing in our supplement, irrespective of whether they come out tops, second, third, or just got a mention. They all deserve a million rounds of applause just for maintaining their excellent standards during the last couple of years of an exceptionally trying business environment.
Thank you to all who have supported the Daily News over the years -–whether as advertisers, readers or in other ways.
We value your support and wish you all the best going forward.
As a brand, the Daily News has been around for more than a century. As part of its staff and leadership, I know how hard things can get for owners and managers when the economic conditions are as difficult as they have been in the recent past. Therefore, any positive feedback – any success, big or small – is always greatly relished and treasured. So, every brand featuring in this year’s Daily News Your Choice Awards in any way should take a bow. You are the best. You are the province’s best. Congratulations!
Mazwi Xaba Acting Daily News Editor and KZN Regional Editor
WE sincerely thank all the voters who participated in the 2024 Daily News Your Choice Awards. Your votes have been instrumental in celebrating the best in our community.
Four lucky voters have been rewarded for their support and involvement by being drawn as winners of the prizes below. Your contributions truly make a difference –congratulations to our lucky winners, and thank you for making your voices heard again this year!
GRAND PRIZES
Prize 1: A two-night stay for two at Wild Coast Sun, including breakfast at Chico’s.
Prize 2: A two-night stay for two at Premier Resort Cutty Sark in Scottburgh, including breakfast.
Prize 3: A one-night stay in Suncoast Towers with breakfast, two Barnyard tickets, R800 spa voucher and R500 Suncoast voucher.
Prize 4: A two-night stay for two at Umthunzi Hotel & Conference on the KZN South Coast, including breakfast.
We would also like to thank the following businesses for their generosity in partnering with us and providing the prizes for 2024:
Best Travel Agency
1st ONE STOP TRAVEL & TOURS
2nd FLIGHT CENTRE
3rd PENTRAVEL
Best Beauty Salon
1st PRAVINA’S HAIR & BEAUTY CENTRE
2nd SORBET
3rd DEMALA HAIR & BEAUTY
3rd PERFECT 10
Best Hair Salon
1st PRAVINA’S HAIR & BEAUTY CENTRE
2nd DEMALA HAIR & BEAUTY
3rd ROLF OFFERMANN HAIRDRESSING
Best Signage Company 1st PRESTIGE SIGNAGE
2nd HIRT & CARTER
3rd UMHLANGA SIGNS
Best Place to Buy Wine 1st TOPS AT SPAR 2nd CHECKERS LIQUORSHOP
3rd MAKRO LIQUOR
Best Liquor Store 1st TOPS AT SPAR 2nd CHECKERS LIQUORSHOP
3rd MAKRO LIQUOR
Best in Home Loans
1st SA HOME LOANS
2nd ABSA
3rd FNB
Best Bed Store
1st DIAL-A-BED
2nd BEDS 2 GO
3rd HIRSCH’S
Best Appliance Store
1st HIRSCH’S
2nd MAKRO
3rd GAME
Best Baby Goods Store
1st BABY CITY
2nd BABIES “R” US
3rd TOYS “R” US
Best Bakery
1st OVEN DELIGHTS
2nd WOOLWORTHS
3rd CHATEAU GATEAUX
1st NETCARE ST AUGUSTINE’S HOSPITAL
2nd LIFE ENTABENI HOSPITAL 3rd LIFE WESTVILLE HOSPITAL
Best Car Rental Company 1st AVIS RENT-A-CAR 2nd WOODFORD
CAR HIRE 3rd EUROPCAR
B
est hospital award for Netcare St Augustine’s Hospital
Best Book Store 1st EXCLUSIVE BOOKS 2nd BARGAIN BOOKS 3rd CUM BOOKS
Netcare St Augustine’s Hospital has been voted by Daily News readers as the Best Hospital in the 2024 Your Choice Awards for the 16th consecutive year.
Thank YOU to our doctors, nurses, other healthcare practitioners, all of our staff and the Durban and the greater KwaZulu-Natal communities for trusting us to provide you with the best and safest care.
It is our privilege to care for YOU.
Contact details
Tel:
Address: 031 268 5000 107 JB Marks Road, Berea, Durban
Best Camping & Outdoor Store 1st CAPE UNION MART 2nd MAKRO 3rd OUTDOOR WAREHOUSE
Best Cash & Carry 1st MAKRO 2nd CHECKSAVE 3rd CHECKSTAR Best Cellular Service Provider 1st MTN 2nd VODACOM 3rd CELL C
Life Entabeni Hospital –committed to making life better
Thank you, Durban for voting for us in the Daily News Your Choice Awards 2024
Best Computer Store
1st INCREDIBLE CONNECTION
2nd MAKRO
3rd MITABYTE
Best College/University
1st UKZN MEDICAL SCHOOL
2nd UNIVERSITY OF KWAZULU-NATAL - DURBAN
3rd VARSITY COLLEGE
Best Casino
1st SUNCOAST CASINO, HOTELS & ENTERTAINMENT
2nd SIBAYA CASINO & ENTERTAINMENT KINGDOM
3rd WILD COAST SUN
Best Cycle Shop 1st SPORTSMAN’S WAREHOUSE 2nd CYCLE LAB
3rd SOLOMONS CYCLES
Best Employment Agency 1st KELLY
2nd QUEST STAFFING SOLUTIONS
3rd PRO APPOINTMENTS
Best Eastern Clothing Boutique 1st JAYSHREE’S/RIVAZ 2nd MEMSAAB 3rd BOLD & BEAUTIFUL
Best Durban Tourist Attraction 1st USHAKA MARINE WORLD 2nd DURBAN BEACHFRONT
3rd SUNCOAST CASINO, HOTELS & ENTERTAINMENT
Best Courier 1st THE COURIER GUY 2nd DHL 3rd RAM
Best High School
1st WESTVILLE BOYS’ HIGH SCHOOL 2nd DURBAN HIGH SCHOOL
3rd CRESTON COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL
Best Furniture Store
1st HOUSE & HOME 2nd CORICRAFT 3rd BRADLOWS
Best Hotel
1st THE OYSTER BOX 2nd COASTLANDS UMHLANGA 3rd SUNCOAST TOWERS
Best Kitchenware Store
1st MR PRICE HOME 2nd HIRSCH’S 3rd @HOME
Best Ladies Clothing Boutique 1st MILADYS
2nd WOOLWORTHS
3rd TRUWORTHS
Best Home Electronics Store
1st HIRSCH’S 2nd MAKRO 3rd GAME
Best Jewellery Store 1st AMERICAN SWISS 2nd STERNS 3rd BROWNS JEWELLERS
Best Fishing Equipment Store
1st THE KINGFISHER 2nd BASIL MANNING ACTIVE FISHING GEAR 3rd AKALS MIDAS
Right: Oven Delights has once again secured top spot as KZN’s favourite bakery. “Thank you for voting us the Best Bakery.”
Best Tyre Retailer
1st TIGER WHEEL & TYRE 2nd SUPA QUICK 3rd HI-Q Wakefields Estate Agents has been voted KZN’s Best Real Estate Agency for 21 consecutive years. “We appreciate your trust and continued support, and hope to continue to serve the residents of this beautiful province for many years to come.” – Myles Wakefield, CEO
Best Airconditioning Supplier
1st CAPITAL AIR 2nd BREEZ
3rd ABSOLUTE AIR
Best Linen Store 1st MR PRICE HOME
2nd SHEET STREET 3rd @HOME
Best Optometrist 1st SPEC-SAVERS
2nd ZA KHAN OPTOMETRISTS 3rd TORGA OPTICAL
Best Pharmacy 1st DIS-CHEM 2nd CLICKS PHARMACY 3rd SPARKPORT PHARMACY
HEATING HEATING
SA’S FIRST EVER
COOLING
Best Sports Shop 1st TOTALSPORTS 2nd MR PRICE SPORT 3rd SPORTSMAN’S WAREHOUSE
Best Spice Shop 1st GORIMA’S 2nd CHOHANS SPICE 3rd MUMBAI SPICE WORKS
Best Shoe Store 1st KINGSMEAD SHOES 2nd WOOLWORTHS 3rd EDGARS
Best Surf Shop 1st LIZZARD 2nd QUIKSILVER 3rd ISLAND STYLE
Best in Kitchen Installations 1st THE KITCHEN STUDIO 2nd EXOTIC KITCHENS 3rd KITCHEN SPECTRUM
Best Toy Store 1st TOYS “R” US 2nd MAKRO 3rd TOY ZONE
Best Delicatessen
1st CHECKERS 2nd WOOLWORTHS
3rd PICK N PAY
Best Used Car Dealer
1st DURBAN SOUTH TOYOTA
2nd ALPINE MOTORS
3rd WE BUY CARS
Best Cinema
1st STER KINEKOR, GATEWAY
2nd NU METRO, PAVILION
3rd SUNCOAST CINECENTRE
Best Paint Store
1st BUILDERS WAREHOUSE
2nd DULUX SPECIALIST PAINT CENTRE
3rd SHAVE PAINT & DÉCOR
Best Coastal Resort
1st MARGATE SANDS
2nd WILD COAST SUN
3rd THE OYSTER BOX
Best in Fencing
1st CLEARVU
2nd ABSOLUT FENCING
3rd FENCERITE
Best All-Round Restaurant
1st SPUR
2nd JOHN DORY’S FISH & GRILL
3rd MOZAMBIK
Best Coffee Shop 1st MUGG & BEAN
2nd STARBUCKS
3rd WIMPY
Best Shopping Mall
1st GATEWAY THEATRE OF SHOPPING
2nd THE PAVILION
3rd LA LUCIA MALL
Best Granite Supplier
1st THE GRANITE STUDIO
2nd CITY GRANITE
3rd GRANITE WAREHOUSE
Best in Home Security 1st BLUE SECURITY 2nd FIDELITY ADT
3rd MARSHALL SECURITY
Best in Flooring 1st CTM
2nd MALLS TILES
3rd CLASSIC FLOORS
Best New Car Dealer
1st MERCEDES-BENZ UMHLANGA
2nd BMW SUPERTECH
3rd DURBAN SOUTH TOYOTA
Best Game Reserve/Lodge 1st HLUHLUWE-IMFOLOZI PARK
2nd ITHALA GAME RESERVE 3rd TALA GAME RESERVE
Best Bathroom Renovators 1st BATHROOM DOCTOR 2nd BATH & TILE RECOATERS 3rd BATHROOM KING
Best Locksmith
1st KZN LOCKSMITHS
2nd DURBAN LOCKSMITHS
3rd DURBAN NORTH LOCKSMITHS
Best in Garage Doors 1st TILLEY DOORS
2nd MAXIDOR
3rd GARAGE DOORS (NATAL)
Best Hardware/DIY Store
1st BUILDERS WAREHOUSE 2nd BUILDERS EXPRESS
3rd BUILD IT
Best in Tarring 1st DURBAN TARMAC 2nd TAR KING 3rd RDS DRIVEWAYS
Best Car Accessories Shop
1st MIDAS
2nd AUTOZONE
3rd AUTOSTYLE MOTORSPORT
Best Midlands/Drakensberg Resort
1st DRAKENSBERG SUN
2nd DRAKENSBERG GARDENS GOLF & LEISURE RESORT
3rd CHAMPAGNE SPORTS RESORT
Best Indian Restaurant
1st JAIPUR PALACE
2nd ORIENTAL RESTAURANT & TAKE AWAY
3rd MY DINERS
Best Nightclub
1st TIGER TIGER
2nd CUBA LOUNGE
3rd DANCE CAFÉ
Best Pizza Place 1st DEBONAIRS PIZZA
2nd ROMAN’S PIZZA 3rd PIZZA HUT
Best Steakhouse
1st SPUR
2nd BUTCHER BOYS
3rd BUTCHER BLOCK
Best Take-away
1st NANDO’S
2nd KFC
3rd PEDROS
Best Place to Have Breakfast 1st WIMPY 2nd MUGG &
3rd SPUR
Best in Light Fitting
1st ZEBBIES LIGHTING
2nd BUILDERS WAREHOUSE
3rd NORTHSIDE ELECTRICAL
Best Pub
1st WAXY O’CONNORS, WESTVILLE
2nd DROPKICK MURPHYS
3rd BRITANNIA HOTEL
3rd HAVANA GRILL
Best Real Estate Agency
1st WAKEFIELDS ESTATE AGENTS
2nd RE/MAX
3rd PAM GOLDING PROPERTIES
Best Tile Store 1st CTM
2nd MALLS TILES
3rd MAHARANI TILES
Best Seafood Restaurant
1st OCEAN BASKET
2nd JOHN DORY’S FISH & GRILL
3rd JIMMY’S KILLER PRAWNS
Best KZN Tourist Attraction
1st USHAKA MARINE WORLD
2nd DURBAN BEACHFRONT
3rd THE HOLLYWOODBETS DURBAN JULY
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Best
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3rd
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