Ford technician secures second national title

Brendon was named Ford South Africa's Top Technician for 2026 after emerging victorious against seven of the country's leading Ford technicians during a demanding series of practical assessments at the Ford Technical Training Centre in Silverton.

The annual competition serves as both a test of technical ability and a celebration of the skills found throughout Ford's South African dealer network. This year's eight finalists were selected from a pool of 540 technicians nationwide, highlighting the level of expertise required to reach the national finals.

The finalists were Brendon Jordaan of Eastern Cape Motors in Gqeberha, Darren Scott of Eastern Cape Motors in KuGompo City, Dewald Blignaut of Eagle Ford, Stefan Van Der Merwe of Human Auto in Welkom, Jason Geduldt of Halfway Ford in Kuils River, Colins Chimukute of CMH Ford in Ballito, Noel Els of MMG Ford in Bethlehem and Thomas Oosthuyzen of McGee and Company in Lydenburg.

Stefan finished second overall, while Noel secured third place. Brendon received R20 000 in prize money and will now represent South Africa at Ford's International Markets Group Technician Skills Competition in Bangkok, Thailand, on 11 and 12 November. Stefan received R10 000 and Noel R5 000.

The victory marked Brendon's second consecutive national title after claiming the crown in 2025. He will return to the international competition after finishing fourth among 10 contestants from across the International Markets Group region at the previous event.

The competition focused on the diagnostic process technicians follow when dealing with customer concerns in dealership workshops. Participants were presented with a series of technical challenges based on real-world scenarios.

Each assessment began with a job card outlining a customer concern. Contestants were required to follow Ford's workshop procedures, evaluate the available information, identify the fault and explain the process they followed to reach their diagnosis.

Rather than rewarding technicians solely for arriving at the correct answer, the contest placed emphasis on a structured and repeatable diagnostic process. Accurate diagnosis remains a critical part of dealership operations, helping ensure repairs are completed correctly while minimising downtime for customers.

Kevin Heunis, Director of Service Engineering & Operations at Ford South Africa, said quality service depends on diagnosing concerns efficiently and completing repairs effectively. He added that technicians play a vital role in keeping customers on the road and that the quality of their work has a direct impact on customer experiences with the brand.

The importance of technical expertise continues to grow as modern vehicles become increasingly sophisticated. Advanced electronics, connected systems, software-driven functions, driver-assistance technologies and complex powertrains all require highly skilled technicians capable of accurately diagnosing and resolving issues.

Neale Hill, President of Ford Motor Company Africa, said the ownership experience remains central to building customer trust and that technicians play a key role in maintaining vehicle uptime and supporting customers throughout the ownership journey.

The contest forms part of Ford's broader efforts to recognise and strengthen technical capability across its dealer network. It also provided an opportunity for eight apprentices from Ford's Automotive Technician Apprentice Scholarship Programme to observe the competition and gain first-hand exposure to advanced diagnostic work and the standards expected of master technicians.