Generations of service mark Virseker Mazda celebration
The recent handover of a brand-new Mazda CX-30 2.0 Dynamic Edition Auto FWD to Reinier Vermaak of Brackenfell, Cape Town, was more than a prize-giving ceremony.
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While the competition itself captured attention, the event at Mazda Vereeniging placed equal emphasis on the dealership’s remarkable family history and the long-serving staff who have shaped its reputation over decades.
The Virseker Mazda competition, which ran from February to April 2026, invited South Africans to enter by requesting a no-obligation insurance quote. From thousands of entries nationwide, Reinier’s name was drawn. For him, the news was almost unbelievable.
“When they called me, I honestly thought someone was joking,” he said. “I’ve never won a competition in my life, so hearing that I had won a brand-new Mazda was unbelievable.”
Seen here are Mone Bothma (Virseker), Reinier Vermaak (winner), Bonite van der Merwe (CEO Mazda South Africa), Twanette Swanepoel (Mazda Vereeniging), Rory Plitt, Selwyn Plitt and Dylan Plitt.
Reinier’s connection to Mazda stretches back twelve years. He has driven a 1989 Mazda 323, a car he describes as proof of the brand’s dependability. “When I bought the car, I had to replace the engine, but since then it has been driving with absolutely no problems,” he explained. “That car showed me how dependable Mazda really is. To now drive away in a brand-new Mazda because of Virseker is something I never imagined would happen.”
Mazda Vereeniging is not simply a showroom. It is a family legacy spanning more than sixty years and four generations.
First Generation – Mr Plitt (Founder)
Second Generation – Mr Selwyn Plitt
Third Generation – Rory Plitt (Dealer Principal)
Fourth Generation – Dylan Plitt
Mazda Vereeniging is part of the Team Vaal Motoring Group.
This continuity has given the dealership a rare depth of experience and a reputation for reliability. Rory Plitt, the current Dealer Principal, reflected on the significance of the event: “This competition perfectly reflects what strong partnerships can achieve. It’s about rewarding loyal customers, celebrating trusted relationships, and creating memorable moments that people will never forget.”
The dealership’s story is not only about family succession but also about employees who have dedicated their working lives to Mazda customers. Among them is Tony Killian, who joined as a Workshop Mechanic in January 1987 and has remained part of the team ever since. His decades of service illustrate the consistency that customers have come to expect.
Ronnie, Workshop Manager, adds another layer of experience with approximately forty years in the Mazda world, eighteen of them at Vereeniging. These individuals embody the dealership’s ethos of trust and continuity, ensuring that customers are supported by people who know the brand inside out.
The winner of the new Mazda, Reinier Vermaak.
While Reinier’s win was the headline moment, the event highlighted something broader: the strength of relationships that underpin Mazda Vereeniging and its partnership with Virseker. The dealership’s heritage, combined with the insurer’s focus on customer engagement, created an occasion that celebrated both individual fortune and collective dedication.
For Reinier, the day marked the beginning of a new journey. “My Mazda 323 will always be special to me,” he says. “But thanks to Virseker, I’m now driving home in a brand-new Mazda CX-30, and that’s something I’ll never forget.”
The team at Mazda Vereeniging: In front are Twanette Swanepoel, Elsone Strydom, Elre van der Merwe, Alizia Johnson, Rachel van der Berg, Rory Plitt, Dylan Plitt, Tony Killian, Irene van den Berg and Maureen Mabaso. At the back are Ernest Mapela, Thuso Moeletsi, Thami Thotha, Sbu Ngomana, Jaco Naude, Patricia Jordaan, Ronnie Foster and Ronan Foster.
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