“I am so excited to be the winner! I really didn't expect it – in a way, I think I’m still in disbelief that I’ve won,” said Mtembu after the announcement at the awards ceremony at the Kyalami Motorsport Festival in Midrand on Saturday.
Mtembu and his fellow top ten finalists were treated to an amazing day at the festival at the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit.
“This was the perfect place to have these awards. the ceremony itself was amazing, and the venue and all the activities here have been just spectacular. I love motorsport, so this is so great for me,” said finalist Antonio Dreyen.
Piet Grové, the owner of the winning company, Elite Dynamics, said Mtembu’s win was well deserved. “When we entered him into the competition it was because he was truly one of our best drivers. We’re so happy and proud of him as a company.”
Grové also expressed his appreciation to Regent Insurance and Hollard for the Highway Heroes campaign. “This is a great competition and I hope it continues through the years. It motivates our drivers so much, and events such as these reward them for their endurance and selfless work.”
Speaking at the awards ceremony, Regent Commercial Vehicles head of operations Paul Dangerfield said, “We don't need more heroes, we need to honour the ones we already have. You see them on our roads – they are easy to spot. They’re the ones with very big vehicles. They’re our truck drivers.”
Dangerfield celebrated the finalists, adding that truck drivers deserve everyone’s respect. I salute them for the hard work they do. The next time you pass a truck on the highway, give the driver a friendly wave; he’s the guy who makes sure that you have every commodity you need to live a comfortable life.”
Regent Commercial Vehicles general manager Wayne Rautenbach said the competition was started to help improve the risk for Regent’s trucking clients; however, it has had a greater outcome than that.
“Highway Heroes has inspired significant improvement in drivers’ behaviour and service across the board. Higher motivation levels and improved spirits have, in turn, led to better business outcomes for employers, who also report substantial fuel, tyre and maintenance cost savings, thanks to improved driving.”
Another big announcement on the day was that this year would be the last that the Highway Heroes competition was Regent-branded. With the recent acquisition of the company by Hollard Insurance, it will from next year be known as Hollard Highway Heroes.
“Hollard is delighted to be taking over the branding of this wonderful initiative,” said Hollard chief marketing officer Heidi Brauer.
She said the Highway Heroes competition was in line with Hollard’s Better Futures marketing campaign, which is about personal dignity and making a difference in people’s lives.
“For us, it was an easy transition, because we believe in safety and personal dignity, which is what the Highway Heroes campaign is about – honouring and celebrating truck drivers for the great work they do and also encouraging safety on the roads.”
As the winner, Mtembu took home the ultimate price of R75 000. The reward would change his life, he said. “This win goes beyond just me, it will change my family’s lives and those of others around me. I thank Regent and Hollard for this great honour.”
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