A night of glitz, glamour and the celebration of excellence at SAMBRA 2023 Awards

Last night, 18 April, the South African Motor Body Repairers Association (SAMBRA) achieved a near-impossible feat by once again raising the bar with its annual 2023 Awards Evening, which was hosted at the Bryanston Country Club.After a recent cold spell, the weather played along beautifully and from the outset at the pre-ceremony drinks next to the greens, a spirt of congeniality and camaraderie permutated the air as the industry rallied together to celebrate excellence.The ceremony was kicked off with a goosebump-inducing performance by 19-year old singing sensation, Jordan Rogers, followed by the welcoming and introductory remarks from SAMBRA National Chairman, Charles Canning.Next up was guest speaker Lee Den Hond. Again SAMBRA outdid itself in this choice. Lee is a sought-after motivational speaker, successful entrepreneur, renowned extreme athlete and only the third ever South African woman to have summited Mount Everest. She used this latter conquest to illustrate to the attendees that when your purpose is bigger than your challenge, nothing is impossible. Surely a message that the industry needed in these tough times.Before the awards handover, Head of Projects and Research at Lightstone, Bernard De Vantier-Strydom, explained to the guests in layman’s terms how the results were reached.Marcia Modiba (Acting Head of SAMBRA), Ipeleng Mabusela (CEO of Strategy and Corporate Support at RMI) and Paul Marshall (Managing Director at Lightstone) then took to the stage for the moment everyone was waiting for. The awards were a mixed bag of the expected and the unexpected with some brands, such as ABSA and VW, performing very well in their respective categories and sub-categories.

The results were as follows:

Insurance Category – Service ExcellenceBronze: BryteSilver: AIG & SantamGold: ABSA

Insurance Category – Best PayerBronze: AIG & BryteSilver: OutsuranceGold: ABSA

Insurance Category – Best Insurer 2023Bronze: Bryte & OutsuranceSilver: AIGGold: ABSA

OEM Category – Communication ExcellenceBronze: BMW/MiniSilver: FordGold: VW/Audi

OEM Category – Best PracticesBronze: StellantisSilver: CheryGold: BMW/Mini & Ford & VW/Audi

OEM Category – Training ProgrammeBronze: HyundaiSilver: BMW/Mini & FordGold: VW/Audi

OEM Category – Overall WinnersBronze: BMW/MiniSilver: FordGold: VW/Audi

Automotive Refinishing Brand CategoryBronze: Glasurit & PPGSilver: SikkensGold: R-M