The South African Guild of Mobility Journalists (SAGMJ) has unveiled its panel of expert judges for the 39th annual South African Car of the Year (COTY) competition. Kicking off in November, the 2025 COTY competition saw Old Mutual Insure (OMI) returning as the title sponsor, extending its support for another two years after a successful partnership since 2023.
The 2025 COTY competition features 27 Jurors and four trainee Jurors, collectively boasting over 220 years of combined motor industry expertise across all media platforms. Some Jurors on this year’s list also judge other competitions, including two who also serve as World Car of the Year (WCOTY) judges. Remarkably, one Juror has participated in every year’s competition since COTY’s inception in 1986.
SAGMJ members play a pivotal role in selecting COTY Jurors. Each year, they vote for their peers to join this prestigious group. The selection combines peer voting with careful selection by the COTY Committee, ensuring a well-rounded team and diverse representation for a balanced and highly credible judging panel.
“We are thrilled with this year’s Juror selection,” says Thami Masemola, Chairperson of the 2025 COTY Committee and Vice-Chairperson of the SAGMJ. “Welcoming new members alongside highly experienced journalists fosters invaluable knowledge-sharing and ensures continuous skills transfer. Whether in formal or informal settings, this strong culture of learning enriches each year’s Juror team and strengthens the competition’s legacy.”
The 2025 COTY Juror and Associate Juror list comprises the following SAGMJ members:
Alan Rosenmeyer
Azim Omar
Bernie Hellberg Jr.
Brendon Staniforth
Brenwin Naidu
Colin Windell
Fanele Bengu
Ferdi de Vos
Francisco Nwamba
Gugu Masuku
Janine van der Post
Jason Woosey
Jeanette Kok-Kritzinger
Kumbi Mtshakazi
Lerato Matebese
Liana Reiners
Mabuyane Mabuza
Marnus Hattingh
Melinda Ferguson
Phuti Mpyane
Riyad Jaffer
Sean Nurse
Sibonelo Myeni
Sheryl Goldstuck
Thami Masemola
Wezile Bonani
Ziphorah Masethe
Brandon Jacobs (Associate Juror)
Charles Molefe (Associate Juror)
Edward Makwana (Associate Juror)
Nicola Furniss (Associate Juror)
“Congratulations to the 2025 COTY Jurors. The Juror list highlights the group’s extensive combined experience, providing the public with confidence in a well-rounded team that represents journalists from across the diverse media landscape,” says Jerry Anthonyrajah, Chief Commercial Officer of Old Mutual Insure.
For the 2025 COTY competition, OMI will again sponsor Juror training through the OMI COTY Academy. This initiative refreshes Jurors’ skills and familiarises new members with the scoring system, ensuring consistency and accuracy. The academy also promotes road safety, reflecting OMI’s vision of creating safer roads across South Africa.
The newly appointed Jurors for the 2025 COTY competition will begin by voting for the semi-finalists, to be announced in early December. The finalists will be revealed at the end of January, marking the next phase of the prestigious competition. The winners of the 2025 COTY competition will be unveiled in May 2025.
“It is an honour to have such a strong group of experts on this year’s elite Jury panel. Their passion and excitement contribute to the continued success South Africa’s prestigious COTY competition. As mobility journalists, our mission remains clear – to inform and to entertain,” concludes Masemola.