Vodacom has scooped top honours at the 18th Sunday Times Top Brands Awards, held at the Maslow Hotel last night. South Africa’s best network, Vodacom, was awarded the Grand Prix prize for overall favourite brand and also won the hearts of consumers as the best Telecommunications Provider in both the consumer and business categories.

‘We are once again honoured to be the recipient of this prestigious award. It is important for the Vodacom brand to remain relevant to South African consumers. Over the years, we have been able to do this through various campaigns which have always depicted South Africans at their best, whilst delivering products and services that address their everyday needs. We thank all South Africans for their continued support and trust in SA's Best Network’, says Managing Executive for Brand and Marketing Communications Mzamo Masito.

The 2016 Top Brands winners were selected based on the views of 3 500 consumers who were surveyed and 502 interviews held with business decision makers, each representing all demographics across South Africa.

Trevor Ormerod, GM Group Sales and Marketing at Times Media, believes the Sunday Times Top Brands Awards provide the vital consumer feedback that brands require in order to remain relevant to their customers.  ‘Research is a timely and resource intensive expense for companies, which is why Times Media has spearheaded Top Brands for the past 18 years – the research is based on sound, solid methodology from TNS, whom we commission, and we know the results have directed the course of many brands in finding their ‘sweet spot’ in the market,’ he says.

The Sunday Times Top Brand Awards, celebrates South Africa's best known and loved brands who have delivered on their brand promise and have been able to provide value to its customers. 2016 marks the sixth year that Vodacom has walked away with the top honours at these prestigious awards. Previous awards include; Telecoms Provider-2005 to 2010 and 2012 to 2015 (Consumer). Best Telecommunications Provider-2011 to 2015 and Grand Prix-2015 (Business). Earlier this year Vodacom also received a thumbs-up from the Sunday Times Generation Next youth as the coolest telecoms provider.