CHRISTMAS IN JULY |
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HONOURING EXCELLENCE: 2026 AWARD WINNERS A highlight of the evening was the awards ceremony, where outstanding contributions to the HVAC & R industry and to the Centre were formally recognised.
SAIRAC Silver Awards: The prestigious SAIRAC Silver Award( previously the SAIRAC Meritorious Award) was presented to four individuals for their exceptional service in developing and implementing the national integrated occupational assessment for the occupation of refrigeration mechanic – a project spanning two years with no formal compensation:
• Craig Hendricks
• Grant Laidlaw – receiving this honour for the second time, having first been awarded in 2021
• James Laidlaw
• Johan Venter
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Best learner award went to Leonard Moolman. |
All images by © RACA Journal |
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Their work has made a meaningful, long‐term contribution to professional standards and skills development in the refrigeration sector.
The Johannesburg Centre also recognised dedication and excellence at a local level:
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Most diligent Centre member: Awarded to Sello Moseki for outstanding attendance and support across technical talks, courses and functions. |
Most diligent Centre member was awarded to Sello Moseki for outstanding attendance and support across technical talks, courses and functions. |
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Best technical talk presenter of the year: As voted by the Johannesburg Centre Committee, this award went to Robert Fox in recognition of his consistently high‐quality, well‐attended technical presentations. |
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Best learner award: Presented to Leonard Moolman, recognised as the best learner / apprentice studying air conditioning, refrigeration, or related courses as proposed by SAIRAC course lecturers and endorsed by the Johannesburg Centre Committee.
COMMITTEE CHANGES Before closing the AGM, Grobbelaar expressed sincere thanks to the outgoing committee for their dedication over the past year and formally introduced the incoming committee for 2025 – 26, led by incoming chairman Robert Fox, with Grant Laidlaw continuing as treasurer and Grobbelaar himself stepping into the vice chairman role.
Members were invited to volunteer for committee service, reinforcing the Centre’ s commitment to broad participation and renewal.
The formal meeting concluded after which attendees were encouraged to relax and enjoy the remainder of the Christmas in July evening together – an appropriate end to a year marked by strong education programmes, financial stability, and well‐deserved recognition of individual achievement within the SAIRAC Johannesburg Centre. RACA
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Phophi Nematangari, SARACCA national executive committee. |
The 2026 / 27 committee, left to right: Mankale Molaba, Moses Mngomezulu, Mariet Pieterse, Grant Laidlaw, James Laidlaw, Robert Fox, Ryan Laidlaw, Gregory Grobbelaar. Those who gave apologies for the night and are on the committee: Jaco Pieterse, Bob Vuletic, Gareth Channer. |