JOHANNESBURG – Since the inaugural South African Car of the Year (COTY) competition in 1986, members of the South African Guild of Mobility Journalists (SAGMJ) have either hand-selected or elected the jury of peers by ballot. This year, the selection process is an amalgam of peer voting and jurors being hand-selected by the COTY committee.
“Innovations in driver assist features, safety, and technology along with hybrid and electric vehicles are being developed so rapidly, it can be overwhelming for consumers to be faced with so many options. It has always been our objective as mobility journalists to inform and educate. Awarding a vehicle the title of the best car in South Africa is a big responsibility, and we want the best team possible to do the job,” Mabuyane Mabuza, Chairperson of 2023 COTY and interim Vice-Chairperson of the South African Guild of Mobility Journalists, noted.
The members of the SAGMJ, through a dedicated voting platform, elected 50% of the jurors who are members in good standing with the SAGMJ, completed two years of Jury training (or in exceptional circumstances, a one-year trainee programme), and are industry-recognised journalists who participate in the industry by attending manufacturer launch events, and/or driving media test vehicles during the eligibility period.
Garth Napier, MD of Old Mutual Insure, said that the combined experience of the jury has been the driving factor behind COTY’s reputation of raising automotive benchmarks, and promoting a culture of excellence, for more than three decades.
“Quality and innovation in the motoring world benefits our customers, as this allows them to enjoy vehicles that may be safer or offer more advanced technology. This dovetails our strategy, which is to provide relevant and innovative insurance products and solutions that meet our customers’ changing needs,” said Napier. “Congratulations to this year’s jury, whose proven journalistic excellence will no doubt continue to raise the bar of the competition.”
In addition, 50% of trainee jurors were elected through online voting. These trainees are also members in good standing with the SAGMJ, have or will attend special juror one-on-one training sessions, and are industry-recognised journalists who participate in the industry by attending manufacturer launch events, and/or driving media test vehicles during the eligibility period.
2023 SA Car of the Year jury panel is (in alphabetical order):
Alan Rosenmeyer
Bernard Hellberg Jr
Brenwin Naidu
Carl Wepener
Colin Windell
Damian Adams
Dirk Gallowitz
Fanelesibonge Bengu
Ferdi de Vos
Francisco Nwamba
Ian McLaren
Janine van der Post
Jason Woosey
Jeanette Kok-Kritzinger
Juliet McGuire
Justin Jacobs
Kumbi Mtshakazi
Lerato Matebese
Mabuyane Mabuza
Marnus Hattingh
Melinda Ferguson
Nafisa Akabor (Hybrid/EV specialist)
Sean Nurse
Sibonelo Myeni
Sisanda Mbete
Thamsanqa Masemola
Ziphorah Masethe
Reserve juror: Lawrence Smith
Trainee jurors (in alphabetical order):
Azim Omar
Gugu Masuku
Jason Mayo
Naresh Maharaj
Riyad Jaffer
Vann van Staden
The balance of the jury and trainee jury was hand-selected by the COTY committee consisting of Mabuyane Mabuza (Chairperson), Lerato Matebese, Thami Masemola, Jason Woosey, and Brenwin Naidu. They recruited several senior SAGMJ journalists and content creators to become more active with COTY, many of whom had served as jurors before.
“The COTY committee has recruited several respected journalists who will be joining the jury. This is one of the strongest and diverse COTY juries ever assembled for the competition. Now the real work starts, “concluded Mabuza.