The past few weeks have reinforced for me just how quickly our industry is changing – and how important it is for SAMBRA to stay connected, informed and ahead of the curve on behalf of our members.
Our recent international engagements in Germany and Scotland were particularly valuable. From the AIRC conference and Automechanika Frankfurt to our engagements with the Scottish Motor Trade Association and Edinburgh College, we saw many of the same issues playing out internationally that our members are dealing with here at home: skills shortages, increasingly complex vehicles, EVs and ADAS, technology, repair information, sustainability and changing insurer and OEM requirements.
The encouraging message is that South Africa is not alone in facing these challenges. There is much we can learn from other markets, but there is also much that South Africa can contribute to the international conversation. Our new membership of AIRC gives SAMBRA an important platform to do both.
Closer to home, we continue to focus on practical support for members. Whether it is strengthening our OHS offering, expanding access to training, improving our Jobs Portal, engaging government and regulators, or using the Competition Commission’s Block Exemption to address important contractual issues, our objective remains the same: to make it easier for members to run sustainable, compliant and successful businesses.
There is a lot happening across our industry. This issue of SAMBRA Insider brings you some of the key developments, insights and opportunities that we believe matter to your business.
As always, I encourage you to make use of the benefits available to you through SAMBRA and to keep engaging with us. Your feedback helps shape the issues we take forward on behalf of the sector.
Juan Hanekom
National Director, SAMBRA
