We will keep his legacy alive for future generations, says Pine Pienaar, Group Franchise Executive of the Human Auto Group, to Dealerfloor in reaction to the sudden passing of Jacques Strydom (54), owner of the well-known motor group.
Share with friends
Jacques was the third generation in charge of this family business founded by his grandfather, the late Barnie Human in 1950 as Human & Kie, which later on became Human Auto Motors Bloemfontein and grew to Human Auto, the Ford bastion in the Free State and Northern Cape, with dealerships in Bloemfontein, Welkom, Kimberley and Ficksburg.
In recent years, other brands like Chery and Foton were also added to the group’s portfolio.
Says Pine: “Under Jacques’ leadership Human Auto won the Dealer Group of the Year title at the Ford Dealer of the Year awards for four consecutive years as well as numerous other awards. Jacques had a unique leadership style, making sure that he got the strongest possible management team.
Jacques seen here with his sisters, Therese, Ronelle and to his right, his mother Christa.
“He chose to spend most of his time on his farm with his family and was a leading figure in Saddlebred horse circles where he was at his happiest,” Pine says.
Jacques created the Be Human Middelwater Plaas with a conference and wedding facility and get-together venue, for the public, with concerts, flee markets and other social events being held there. It is also a place where his dealers and staff could engage with customers.
Be Human Middelwater Plaas will also be his last resting place with a ceremony celebrating his life on Sunday, 16 February at 11:00.
Motus Holdings Limited reported an improved operational performance for the six months ended 31 December 2025, with its South African operations remaining the primary contributor to Group performance.
Volvo Trucks South Africa recently announced its top achieving dealers for 2025, recognising excellence across 23 categories spanning over its full value offering, including parts, finance, service, uptime solutions, safety, and technical services.
Volvo Trucks South Africa recently announced its top achieving dealers for 2025, recognising excellence across 23 categories spanning over its full value offering, including parts, finance, service, uptime solutions, safety, and technical services.
The Human Auto Group in the Free State and Northern Cape once again showed its strength, winning the Group Dealer of the Year for the 6th consecutive time at the recently held Ford Recognition Awards.
Navigating the various ways to pay for a vehicle can be as complex as choosing the car itself. However, understanding all the options available is critical to ensuring long-term financial wellness when finally buying that dream car.