
Xaomi’s new SUV hits the target
Remember a couple of years ago when Xaomi smartphones entered the local market and no one really knew the brand?
- New Energy Vehicles
- 3 July 2025
Ford held its annual Dealer of the Year award ceremony where individual dealerships and motoring groups were honoured for their achievements.
Rola Ford in Robertson, part of the Rola Group with dealerships throughout the Western Cape, scooped up the silverware not only as category E winner but also the main award, namely the overall Dealer of the Year for Ford SA.
Other accolades in different classes in category E where Rola Ford Robertson was either the winner or runner-up, include Ford Protect Merit Club (winner), Best Ford Protect Penetration Award (winner), Ford Credit Merit Club (winner - Michelle Adriaanse), Service Merit Club (winner - Johan van Zyl), Sales Merit Club (winner - Dewald Möller).
Other Ford dealerships in the Rola Group that received accolades, are Service Merit Club (runner-up in category D, Graeme Coetzee, Rola Ford Bredasdorp), Parts Merit Club (winner - Athena Spanellis, Rola Ford Hermanus), Sales Merit Club (winner - Ryno Steyn) and Dealer of the Year (runner-up, category D - Marco Calitz).
The Human Auto Group from the Free State and Northern Cape (main photo) continued its domination with its 4th sought-after Group Dealer of the Year Award. Although not taking the overall Dealer of the Year title this time around, it still managed two runner-up positions as Dealer of the Year in category A (Des Williams, Human Auto Bloemfontein) and a runner-up as Dealer of the Year in category C (Pierre Beukes, Human Auto Welkom).
The Human Auto Group also picked up the Sales Merit Club category C’s runner-up (Cliff Cawood, Human Auto Welkom), Service Merit Club (winner, category A, Okkie Louw, Human Auto Bloemfontein), Ford Credit Merit Club (runner-up, category A, Ludwig van Staden, Human Auto Bloemfontein), Best Ford Protect Volume Leader Award (runner-up, overall, Human Auto Bloemfontein), Ford Protect Merit Club (runner-up, category A, Human Auto Bloemfontein), Service Merit Club (winner, category B, Pieter le Roux, Human Auto Welkom).
Ford Dealer of the Year 2023:
Category E |
Runner Up |
Ben Niemandt |
Action Ford Modimolle. |
Category E |
Winner |
Karen Möller |
Rola Ford Robertson |
Category D |
Runner Up |
Marco Calitz |
Rola Ford Hermanus |
Category D |
Winner |
Attie Fourie |
Action Ford Mokopane |
Category C |
Runner Up |
Pierre Beukes |
Human Auto Welkom |
Category C |
Winner |
Chilton Penery |
Halfway Ford Waterfall |
Category B |
Runner Up |
Magda Mouton |
Ford Fourways |
Category B |
Winner |
Peet Venter |
Action Ford Roodepoort |
Category A |
Runner Up |
Des Williams |
Human Auto Bloemfontein |
Category A |
Winner |
Ben Pillay |
Lazarus Ford |
National Dealer of the Year 2023 |
Winner |
Karen Möller |
Rola Ford Robertson |
Group Dealer of the Year 2023 |
Winner |
Pine Pienaar |
Human Auto Group |
One of the topics that comes up often when I write articles is “waste” within a dealership. Quite often, expenses are cut when times are challenging but often, waste is confused with expenditure.
The story of Gabisile Fakude will surely be an inspiration for many who have an eye on the automotive industry as a career, especially for those who have not traditionally been associated with this world as a career path.
Suzuki Kenilworth in Cape Town claimed top honours for the second year running at the annual Suzuki Dealer Conference and Awards.