Car brands involved with sport, customers

Hyundai teams up with SA Rugby

The South African Rugby Union (SA Rugby) announced a landmark four-year partnership agreement with Hyundai Automotive South Africa as the new official vehicle of South Africa’s junior national teams and Youth Week rugby tournaments.

The partnership will see Hyundai Automotive South Africa’s iconic logo appear for the first time on the playing shorts of South Africa’s Under-20 men’s team in The Rugby Championship U20 tournament which kicked off in Gqeberha recently.

Hyundai Automotive South Africa’s rights also extend to all other junior men’s and women’s national teams, as well as securing associate partner rights for the country’s prestigious Youth Week tournaments — including the Under-16 and Under-18 events for both boys and girls.

The agreement is the first time the Korean car maker has partnered with SA Rugby and highlighted the company’s commitment to South Africa says Gideon Jansen van Rensburg, CEO of Hyundai Automotive South Africa.

LDV scrums with the Blue Bulls

LDV South Africa announced a new partnership with Willem Strauss – President of the Blue Bulls Rugby Union – and Jaco Dames, General Manager of the Union. As respected leaders in South African rugby, Strauss and Dames have chosen LDV as their trusted brand of vehicle.

Each has been issued a Blue LDV T60 Max Luxe as part of a six-month partnership that commenced in April 2025. This partnership represents more than just vehicle sponsorship – it is a testament to the shared values of strength, performance and resilience that both LDV and the Blue Bulls Rugby Union embody, LDV says.

“We are honoured that Willem and Jaco have chosen LDV as their preferred brand. It’s a proud moment for us as a business, and we’re excited about the journey ahead. This partnership aligns with our mission to support excellence in South African sport and leadership,” says Neil Barker, CMO LDV South Africa.

Music and food festival for Jetour owners

Four of South Africa’s top musical talents, gourmet street food served fresh from some of South Africa’s favourite food trucks, three thousand tickets and one of Gauteng's premier festival venues will be happening at Casalinga, Johannesburg, on Saturday, 24 May.

But there’s a catch – this is an invitation only event, exclusively for Jetour customers and their friends and family. This is the biggest customer day event that the brand has hosted in Africa to date, and Jetour will be bringing customers and some chart-topping local artists together for a celebration to remember.

Zakes Bantwini is a Grammy Award-winning South African artist, producer and songwriter who will be performing at the Jetour customer day. The line-up further includes the rock band The Parlotones, Mi Casa, the popular South African house music trio and South African Pop/R&B singer and songwriter, Shekhinah.

Three to adjudicate local entries for Defender Awards

Defender announced the three panellists who have been selected to adjudicate entries and choose the finalists from South Africa in the international Defender Awards.

The trio of Ross Holgate of the Kingsley Holgate Foundation, Ivy Wairimu from Tusk, and Bryan Habana, Springbok legend and founder of the Bryan Habana Foundation, will join an international panel of experts who will also offer mentorship to the winning organisations or individuals, including the winner who will be selected from South Africa.

Launched this year, the inaugural Defender Awards initiative aims to celebrate and support conservation and humanitarian heroes around the world through a £1m programme that will see the brand extend its unwavering support for conservation and humanitarian causes.

Holgate, Wairimu and Habana will select the winner from among entrants who are active in one of four fields:

• Defenders of the Wild – protecting endangered and at-risk species.
• Defenders of Humanity – supporting vulnerable communities.
• Defenders of the Land – protecting and restoring the most precious and fragile places on earth.
• Defenders of the Sea – protecting marine species and environments.

The Defender Awards will recognise and reward seven winners drawn from South Africa, the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Australia and Japan. Winning entrants will each receive a R2.4 million (£100 000) bursary, a tough and capable Defender to help support vital, front-line work in hard-to-reach locations, and mentoring support from a community of experts.