July 2014 | Page 59

➲ André van Tonder and Werner Erasmus from Hi-Q Ellisras and Mopani Bande ➲ Christiaan Horn from AutoZone Ellisras and Marius Benade from Midas Ellisras ➲ Roedie du Plessis from Midas Ellisras (second from left), with customers Llewellyn Fox, Nicolene van der Merwe, Joël van der Merwe, and customers to be Nicole and Johan van der Merwe ➲ Gerhard Lötter and Chris Barnard from VIB Auto Electrical ➲ The winner of the solo ride in a Legends car in November 2014 was Cuan McCabe from AutoZone Ellisras. Cuan was ably assisted in the quiz show by his father Hilton McCabe. The McCabe’s told aBr that this was their first Partinform event, and they appreciated the invite because they found the show informative and well organised | words in action 57 july 2014 The aforesaid purpose of Partinform is to increase market awareness of Quality Branded Product, and by so doing encouraging the use of these products by parts resellers, workshops, fitment centres, and all the players in the automotive aftermarket, for the mutual benefit of all concerned. Partinform is also a great forum for people to share their experiences, learn about new products being launched, and to assist in the selling and fitment of these quality branded parts. And so, on the evening of 18 June, with the assistance of the generators, the show went on, and an informative time was had by all. And there was another metaphor to be found in the situation, because the contrast between the hard working entrepreneurs and employees of the automotive aftermarket businesses; compared to the quasi-state institutions such as Eskom is stark, and sobering. And it was not lost on me that the good folk of Ellisras with whom I was interacting, are the guys who keep the machinery going, and the vehicles moving, and whatever else is necessary to prop up the economy and maintain it on an even keel, in a productive and noteworthy way. On the other hand, the Medupi power station represents the other side of the coin, and the not so good folk from Lephalale who represent the state sponsored side of the economy, and things such as graft and inefficiency. With this in mind, I looked at the gathering and I was pleased, because this represented the righteous people of our land, and who by the sweat of their brow carry an enormous burden, uncomplainingly and with a smile on their face, as they pull the plough of an increasingly large gravy train. It was with this in mind that I decided to focus on the people rather than the product in this issue of aBr, and to praise them with pictures.