Jurors announced for 2020 AutoTrader South African Car Of The Year

The criteria for Jury eligibility includes:

• All candidates must be members in good standing with the SAGMJ
  
• A full member must have completed a minimum of two years of jury training. Full members who do not comply with this requirement will be considered for the jury programme
  
• A jury member must be active members of the SAGMJ for a minimum of five years
  
• A jury member must be an industry-recognised journalist who has participated in the industry by attending manufacturer launch events, and/or by driving test vehicles during the eligibility period

The criteria for Trainee Jury eligibility include:

All candidates must be members in good standing with the SAGMJ

Trainee jury members must be active members of the SAGMJ for a minimum of two years

A trainee jury member must be an industry-recognised journalist who has participated in the industry by attending manufacturer launch events, and/or by driving test vehicles during the eligibility period

Following a vote by the full membership of the SAGMJ, the following members of the Guild have been nominated and vetted by the executive committee as the jury and trainees for the 2020 competition, and have confirmed their participation.

2020 South African Car Of The Year Jurors (in alphabetical order):

• Adam Ford
  
• Bernard Hellberg Jr.
  
• Carl Wepener
  
• Charlene Clarke
  
• Colin Windell
  
• Denis Droppa
  
• Derek Watts
  
• Dirk Gallowitz
  
• Egmont Sippel
  
• Ferdi de Vos
  
• Francisco Nwamba
  
• Hannes Visser
  
• Janine-Lee van der Post
  
• Jason Woosey
  
• Jeanette Kok-Kritzinger
  
• Johann van Tonder
  
• Justus Visagie
  
• Lawrence Smith
  
• Mabuyane Kekana
  
• Marnus Hattingh
  
• Pritesh Ruthun
  
• Ray Leathern
  
• Roger McCleery
  
• Rubin van Niekerk
  
• Sean Nurse
  
• Stuart Johnston
  
• Wynter Murdoch

2020 South African Car Of The Year Trainee Jurors (in alphabetical order):

• Brenwin Naidu (1st year)
  
• Chris Wall (1st year)
  
• Farzana Chaumoo (1st year)
  
• Graham Erasmus (2nd year)
  
• Melinda Ferguson (2nd year)
  
• Richard Wiley (1st year)
  
• Sisanda Mbete (2nd year)
  
• Vuyi Mpofu (2nd year)
  
• Reserve:: Hanjo Stier (1st Year)

The eligibility period for vehicle ranges that may be considered for the 2020 AutoTrader South African Car Of The Year competition is from 1 November 2018 up to and including 31 October 2019.

The finalist announcement is scheduled for November (final date to be determined), and from 8-10 March 2020 the jury will put the finalists through stringent testing. The winners’ announcement is tentatively booked for the 31 March 2020 or 2 April 2020.

The SA Guild of Motoring Journalists is the custodian of the South African Car Of The Year competition since 1986 and has a long-standing heritage of awarding automotive excellence. It remains the most prestigious and credible Car Competition in South Africa.