Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa (Manufacturing) Pty Ltd showcased the strength and longevity of its dealer and distributor network across South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa at the 2025 Ford Recognition Awards, held in Johannesburg.
The annual event honoured top performers across sales, aftersales, Ford Credit, Ford Protect, customer experience and operational excellence. More than a celebration of performance, the evening reflected Ford’s long-term commitment to partnership, resilience and sustained contribution to the communities it serves.
Neale Hill, President of Ford Motor Company Africa, emphasised the importance of enduring relationships in his address to the network.
“Strong businesses support society. We believe in doing this generationally, not transactionally. Longevity is what we believe in – for over 100 years in South Africa. Tonight, we celebrate not only performance, but partnership and the shared commitment that continues to strengthen Ford’s presence across this region,” he said.
Hill also commended the network for maintaining high standards despite a challenging economic environment.
“This event is about acknowledging the dedication and operational discipline demonstrated daily by our dealer network. Their resilience continues to set new benchmarks for the Ford brand.”
A key highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Ford Contribution Awards, recognising individuals whose long-standing leadership has made a lasting impact on the brand across Southern Africa and beyond.
The 2025 recipients were Colin Lazarus of Lazarus Ford in South Africa, John Landey of Eagle Motor City in South Africa, and Robert Hudson of Salvador Caetano in Angola.
These awards recognise not only commercial success, but the role these leaders have played in building customer trust, strengthening communities and sustaining Ford’s legacy across generations.
The 2025 Awards also celebrated extraordinary dealer longevity, reinforcing Ford’s deep-rooted presence in the region.
Fifty-year anniversary recipients were Basil Green Auto and Casseys Auto Springs. Hi Auto in Escourt, KwaZulu-Natal, received the 75-year anniversary award, while McGee and Company in Lydenburg was recognised for reaching the 100-year milestone.
Several additional dealerships across South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa were recognised for 25 years of partnership, highlighting the strength and continuity of Ford’s regional footprint.
Outstanding distributor performance across Sub-Saharan and North Africa was also recognised. Kennedy Kabaghe of CFAO Mobility in Malawi was named Group B winner, while Antony Haji of CMC Automobiles Ltd in Tanzania received the Group A award.
In the South African Dealer of the Year categories, Johan Barnard of B & R Motors won Category D, Marthinus Linde of Action Ford Mokopane won Category C, Pierre Beukes of Human Auto Welkom won Category B, and Des Williams of Human Auto Bloemfontein won Category A.
Des Williams of Human Auto Bloemfontein was also named National Dealer of the Year 2025, while Pine Pienaar of Human Auto Group received the Group Dealer of the Year 2025 award.
As Ford South Africa looks ahead, the achievements recognised at the 2025 Awards reaffirm the company’s commitment to building strong, enduring partnerships across South Africa and the broader Sub-Saharan region. Through generational dealer relationships, visionary leadership and a continued focus on customer experience, Ford continues to strengthen its legacy in one of its most important global markets.
