- Brendon Jordaan named Top Technician again.
- Eight finalists chosen from over 540 technicians.
- Winner receives R20 000 in prize money.
- Bangkok international final on 11 and 12 November 2026.
- New apprentice cohort expected in 2027.
For the second consecutive year, Ford South Africa has named Brendon Jordaan of Eastern Cape Motors, Gqeberha, its Top Technician. He took the 2026 Service Engineering & Operations Skills Contest after a day of practical diagnostic and technical assessments at the Ford Technical Training Centre in Silverton, beating seven other finalists drawn from more than 540 technicians across the local dealer network.
Ford Skills Contest results and prize money
Stefan Van Der Merwe of Human Auto, Welkom, finished second, with Noel Els of MMG Ford, Bethlehem, in third. Els, like the winner, was a returning finalist. Jordaan received R20 000, Van Der Merwe R10 000 and Els R5 000.
The other finalists were Darren Scott of Eastern Cape Motors, KuGompo City (formerly East London), Dewald Blignaut of Eagle Ford, Jason Geduldt of Halfway Ford, Kuils River, Colins Chimukute of CMH Ford, Ballito, and Thomas Oosthuyzen of McGee and Company, Lydenburg.
How the Ford diagnostic assessments work
Each assessment opened with a job card describing a customer concern. Contestants had to follow Ford’s prescribed workshop procedures, interrogate the available information, diagnose the fault and explain how they reached their conclusion. Marks rewarded a disciplined, repeatable process rather than simply landing on the correct answer.
“Skills, competency, training and, above everything else, people matter,” said Kevin Heunis, Director of Service Engineering & Operations at Ford South Africa. Neale Hill, President of Ford Motor Company Africa, said no algorithm or technology could replace the judgement of an outstanding technician, adding: “Vehicle sales start the relationship, but the service experience keeps it alive.”
Ford dealer network and apprentices
PK Umashankar, Senior Director, Customer Service Operations, Ford International Markets Group, said the company’s approximately 8 000 technicians across IMG markets handle around 17 000 repair orders a day. Gains in Fix It Right First Time performance and repair turnaround times have placed South Africa among Ford’s top three service markets in the region.
Eight apprentices from the inaugural pilot Automotive Technician Apprentice Scholarship Programme watched as observers. Supported by Ford Philanthropy and Ford South Africa, the three-year programme combines the merSETA apprenticeship pathway with Ford-specific training and dealership experience, and is expected to take on a new cohort in 2027.
Bangkok final for the Ford Top Technician
Jordaan will now represent South Africa at Ford’s International Markets Group Technician Skills Competition in Bangkok, Thailand, on 11 and 12 November 2026. At the previous edition he placed fourth among 10 contestants from across the IMG region.
Supplied by QuickPic (Ford)
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