Founded in 1924 to supply explosives to an emerging South African mining industry, AECI has evolved into a major chemicals group generating annual sales of almost R20bn a year. It is also a business with a well developed social conscious, investing a hefty R35m a year in corporate social responsibility, and having an education and development trust which owns 3.5% of the group's issued shares. In this uplifting discussion, the group's CSI chief Nicole Solomon shares some of the AECI story - and explains why she is taking her top team to the 2018 CEO SleepOut at Liliesleaf.

It's been my privilege to have known the construction industry's senior statesman, WBHO chairman Mike Wylie, for many years. During this time I've seen him quietly contributing to those less privileged, including a watershed donation that helped St Joseph's HIV clinic near Bronkhorstspruit save many lives. In this interview Wylie explains why he answered UMSO Construction CEO Tollo Nkosi's challenge to get involved in the Nelson Mandela CEO SleepOut, who he is bringing along on 11 July and why he has challenged the CEOs of Raubex and Stefanutti Stocks to join in at Liliesleaf.

Imtiaz Patel runs the Naspers Video Entertainment business which has 14 million customers. Under his guidance the business has just experienced an excellent turnaround after a two year restructuring. CEO SleepOut veteran Patel likens his company's rebound to what is in prospect for South Africa - and he has challenged heavy hitters Jabu Mabuza, Sipho Masekso and Shameel Joosub to brave the elements and accept the challenge to overnight under the stars at Liliesleaf on July 11th.

Liane McGowan is the chief executive of the CEO SleepOut and will once again be on site for South Africa's biggest fundraising event of the year. In this interview she explains the rationale behind the project, how the patron Dr Makiziwe Mandela became involved, and why the 2018 edition just had to be at Liliesleaf Farm. Liane also shares that "magical moment" which she says happens every year at around 2am...

Anglo Platinum CEO Chris Griffith is among the 200 CEOs who will be sleeping rough at Liliesleaf on July 11, getting a taste of conditions that homeless people experience every night. Griffith is a veteran of South Africa's CEO SleepOut project and in this fascinating discussion explains why he keeps coming back. Sandwiched between SleepOut chat are some fascinating insights into the reason why, to paraphrase Mark Twain, reports of the platinum industry's death "are greatly exaggerated."

Attorney Greg Edelstein of Johannesburg's law firm EFG will be taking his fellow directors to Liliesleaf on 11 July - and has challenged five fellow CEOs to join him there. He's hoping for the kind of response that TV series character Barney Stinson would instantly flash back: "Challenge Accepted." So how about it Uri, Rob, Eugene, Ilan and Herbert?

A principal beneficiary of the 2018 Nelson Mandela CEO SleepOut is the project Madiba himself dreamed about - a sustainable farming venture in his impoverished home town of Qunu in the Eastern Cape where the icon is buried. Brylyne Chitsunge, a UK educated Phd is the driving force behind the initiative. SA's award winning farmer explains why she switched from medicine to breeding Ngunis and Kalahari red goats - and how she plans to use the Qunu Food Security Project as a model for similar initiatives all over the continent.

Last year, the head office team of rapidly growing pharmacy franchise The Local Choice held a local SleepOut in its Delmas HQ. It was such a success that the company has gone up a level this year by inviting its 80 franchisees to join in. Rachelle Campbell explains why she thinks most of them will do so - and issues a challenge to Dis-Chem bossman Ivan Saltzman to pick up the baton and join the join CEO SleepOut at Liliesleaf on July 11.

Dr Baz Dreisinger's Prison to College Pipeline is a secondary beneficiary of the CEOSleepOut project. It is based on her view that the current system of incarceration is broken and requires urgent reform. Her charity helps inmates change their lives through education - following in the footsteps of South Africa's most famous prisoner who regarded education as the gateway to freedom.

Unless you understand the history, its impossible to track the future. And in this absorbing interview, Nic Wolpe shares the story of how Liliesleaf Farm became the incubator from which the new South Africa was born. This is a fascinating account of a 28 acre plot which was the birthplace of uMkhonto we Sizwe; the sanctuary of its CIC Nelson Mandela (and intelligence head Harold Wolpe); and scene of the police raid that set the scene for the famous Rivonia Trial. Told by the man who has dedicated his life to the iconic part of South African history.