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.
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.
“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.
Nissan Motor Co, Ltd and Wayve have announced definitive agreements to collaborate on integrating next-generation ProPILOT technology with Wayve's artificial intelligence software across a broad range of Nissan vehicles.
SCW Group’s multi-franchise set-up in Milnerton in the Western Cape now also boasts a brand-new Mahindra dealership.
The South African Guild of Mobility Journalists (SAGMJ) has announced the long-awaited semi-finalists for the 40th edition of the prestigious 2026 Car of the Year (COTY) competition, held annually since 1986.
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I have bad reflexes. I was once run over by a car being pushed by two guys
Woody Allen
SCW Group’s multi-franchise set-up in Milnerton in the Western Cape now also boasts a brand-new Mahindra dealership.
The importance of professional training at all levels of a vehicle dealership cannot be underestimated. That is why MSX International's bespoke Advanced Dealer Management (ADM) and the Departmental Leadership Programme (DLP) are taking aim at these aspects.
The Chinese onslaught on the hearts and minds of South African customers continues with Dongfeng, which is making its presence felt with an array of fully electric vehicles (EVs) now available locally and more to come next year.
