• Eight  Technicians selected from more than 540 technicians across Ford’s South African dealer network
• The annual contest celebrates technical expertise, diagnostic discipline and customer-focused professionalism
• The national winner will represent South Africa at the Ford International Markets Group (IMG) Technician Skills Competition in Bangkok in November 2026

Brendon Jordaan of Eastern Cape Motors, Gqeberha, has been named Ford South Africa’s Top Technician for the second consecutive year after winning the 2026 Service Engineering & Operations Skills Contest.

The repeat victory was achieved against seven of the country’s leading Ford Technicians during a demanding day of practical diagnostic and technical assessments at the Ford Technical Training Centre in Silverton.

The annual contest was both a rigorous assessment and a celebration of the skill, quality and professionalism found across Ford’s South African dealer network. It honoured eight  Technicians, chosen from a pool of 540 technicians, for their contribution to vehicle quality, customer satisfaction and Ford’s broader aftersales performance.

Celebrating South Africa’s leading  Technicians

The eight finalists recognised at the 2026 Ford South Africa Skills Contest were:

• Brendon Jordaan – Eastern Cape Motors, Gqeberha
• Darren Scott – Eastern Cape Motors, KuGompo City (formerly East London)
• Dewald Blignaut – Eagle Ford
• Stefan Van Der Merwe – Human Auto, Welkom
• Jason Geduldt – Halfway Ford, Kuils River
• Colins Chimukute – CMH Ford, Ballito
• Noel Els – MMG Ford, Bethlehem
• Thomas Oosthuyzen – McGee and Company, Lydenburg

Stefan Van Der Merwe of Human Auto, Welkom, claimed second place, with Noel Els of MMG Ford, Bethlehem, rounding out the top three. Jordaan successfully defended the title he won in 2025, while fellow returning finalist Els placed third, underlining the consistently high standard required to reach the national final. Jordaan received R20 000 in prize money and the opportunity to compete internationally, while Van Der Merwe received R10 000 and Els received R5 000.

As the winner, Jordaan will represent South Africa at Ford’s International Markets Group (IMG) Technician Skills Competition in Bangkok, Thailand, on 11 and 12 November 2026. He returns to the international stage after finishing fourth among 10 contestants from across the IMG region at the previous competition.

Testing the discipline behind accurate diagnosis

The finalists completed a series of practical assessments based on the types of complex customer concerns they encounter in Ford dealerships.

Each assessment began with a job card describing a customer concern. Contestants were required to follow Ford’s prescribed workshop procedures, interrogate the available information, diagnose the fault and explain the steps that led them to their conclusion.

The competition was designed to reward a disciplined and repeatable diagnostic process rather than a technician simply identifying the correct answer. This approach is critical in a dealership, where accurate diagnosis helps ensure that the underlying cause of a concern is addressed, the correct repair is completed and the vehicle is returned to the customer safely and efficiently.

“For our customers, quality service means diagnosing the concern efficiently, completing the repair effectively and getting them safely back on the road as soon as possible,” said Kevin Heunis, Director of Service Engineering & Operations at Ford South Africa. “Skills, competency, training and, above everything else, people matter. Our technicians keep our customers moving, and the quality of their work directly influences how customers feel about Ford.”

Technical competency has become increasingly important as vehicles incorporate advanced electronics, connected technologies, software, driver-assistance systems and sophisticated powertrains. Neale Hill, President of Ford Motor Company Africa, said no algorithm or technology could replace the judgement and expertise of an outstanding technician.

“Long after the excitement of the showroom fades, it is the ownership experience that customers remember. Every day, our technicians build customer trust, protect our reputation, reduce downtime and solve problems that others cannot see. Vehicle sales start the relationship, but the service experience keeps it alive,” Hill said.

Building capability across the dealer network

The Skills Contest forms part of a broader effort to recognise, reward and strengthen technical competency across Ford’s South African dealer network.

Speaking at the awards evening, PK Umashankar, Senior Director, Customer Service Operations, Ford International Markets Group, said Ford’s approximately 8,000 technicians across IMG markets collectively handle around 17,000 repair orders each day and support more than four million customers annually.

He said improvements in Fix It Right First Time performance and vehicle repair turnaround times had placed South Africa among Ford’s top three service markets within the IMG Region.

Pradeep Jaiswal, Director, Service Engineering and Operations, IMG, attended the South African contest with PK Umashankar. Jaiswal described the Skills Test as one of Ford’s most demanding technical assessments, with the eight South African finalists representing an elite group selected from the local dealer network.

“All eight South African finalists should be incredibly proud of what they have achieved,” Jaiswal said. “They represent the very best of Ford’s technical community in South Africa and set a standard for the technicians and apprentices who will follow them.”

Inspiring Ford’s next generation of technicians

Eight apprentices from Ford’s inaugural pilot Automotive technician Apprentice Scholarship Programme attended as observers, gaining first-hand exposure to advanced diagnostic work and the standards expected of Master Technicians. Supported by Ford Philanthropy and Ford South Africa, the three-year programme combines the recognised merSETA apprenticeship pathway with Ford-specific training and dealership experience and is expected to welcome a new cohort of apprentices in 2027.

Congratulating the finalists and Ford’s broader technician community, Hill said: “This competition celebrates technical mastery, continuous learning, professionalism and pride in workmanship. Our technicians may not always be the most visible people in the business, but they are undoubtedly among the most important.”

Watch the highlights from the SE&O Skills Contest here.