A legend passes
Although Jimmy has passed on, many monuments attesting to his success as an entrepreneur and stalwart of the community of Ermelo will remain.
The sudden death of Jimmy Loubser (65), owner of Ermelo Toyota, one of the most successful motor dealerships in the country, has sent shock-waves throughout the business fraternity of Ermelo, Mpumalanga and the South African motor industry.
Jimmy passed away in the Zuid-Afrikaanse Hospital in Pretoria in the early hours of Sunday morning, 11 October after being admitted earlier to establish the cause of severe abdominal and chest pains.
He was otherwise in good health.
After attending Afrikaans Hoër Seunskool in Pretoria (Affies), James Martin Loubser, known to everyone as Jimmy, completed Grade 12 at Capital College.
His road to becoming a successful businessman and head of a self-built empire began in 1969 when he was employed as an administrative assistant at the Department of Public Works in Pretoria.
After being employed as an accounts clerk, credit controller and customer services manager at various firms in Pretoria from 1969 to 1975, he moved to Cape Town where he joined Toyota South Africa as district sales manager. He was later transferred to Johannesburg as regional sales manager.
Apart from passing numerous Dealer Management and Leadership courses within the Toyota SA group, he completed a diploma course at the Unisa Centre for Business Economics in 1992 where he passed the subjects Marketing, Human Resources Management, Financial Management and General Management cum laude.
Jimmy came to Ermelo from Johannesburg in April 1979 and joined the then Ferm Motors which, under his leadership, later became the present-day highly successful Ermelo Toyota.
The dealership has won numerous awards over the years, among others the coveted Best Toyota Dealership in South Africa, PMR’s Most Respected Dealership in Mpumalanga (across all brands) and Best Service Centre in the country, on many occasions.
The Ermelo Toyota Total Filling Station achieved similar spectacular results and sales increased from just over 100 000 litres per month in the beginning to about 780 000 litres per month at present.
This business also operates a very successful Steers Restaurant, which won the Best Operational Standards Award in Mpumalanga from Famous Brands last year, as well as a high volume Bonjour convenience store.
With Jimmy at the helm, Ermelo Toyota branched out to George in the Cape Province in 1991 when George Toyota was taken over at the request of the late Bert Wessels, whose family owned Toyota SA at that time. The name was then changed to Loerie Toyota. This dealership became very successful, but was sold to the Halfway Group in 2011.
The Loubser family still owns the property from which it operates, which was fully redeveloped in 2006.
In 2005, Ermelo Toyota bought the battling Pongola Toyota in partnership with the Höll family.
The dealership was spectacularly turned around and vehicle sales were increased from seven units a year to the current just less than 300 units a year.
Besides numerous awards for excellence and leadership within the motor industry and the business world, at the 2014 Toyota National Dealer Awards, Jimmy was recognised by Toyota South Africa as the most proficient group managing director in the Toyota network.
Jimmy was also a community builder of note and displayed a sincere passion for uplifting and aiding the community which had allowed him to become a highly successful businessman.
Known as strict but fair, Jimmy was a man who believed in second chances and had an open hand for charities and people in genuine need.
He served in leadership roles in various institutions and organisations which included, among others, chairman of the Highveld Show Society, president of the Ermelo Rotary Club, chairman of the Ermelo Crime Coordinating Council, chairman of the Ermelo Peace Committee, chairman of the Ermelo Business Association (EBA) of which he was a founder member, chairman, executive and founder member of IRBI and numerous others.
It was his passion for motor sport that many Ermelites will remember Jimmy for.
For many years he was instrumental in bringing the Castrol International Rally and Total International Rally to Ermelo where as route director he played the leading role in the massive task of organising and presenting these events.
These events, as well as the equally popular Toyota 400 Quad Bike and Off-road Bike event, attracted the cream of South African and international drivers and riders.
The events also contributed millions of Rands to the economy of Ermelo over the years with fully booked guest houses and hotels providing accommodation for competitors and thousands of motor sport enthusiasts.
Although Jimmy has passed on, many monuments attesting to his success as an entrepreneur and stalwart of the community of Ermelo will remain.
Of these, the ultra modern complex housing Ermelo Toyota, regarded as one of the leading dealerships in the country, the spacious Jimmy Loubser Hall at the Ermelo show grounds, the Winter Breeze Oaks shopping mall and the Highveld Splendour Boutique Hotel stand out among many others.
Jimmy is survived by his wife Noeline, sons Vincent and Glen, daughter Tanya and two grandchildren, James and Leandi, and former wife, Lorraine.
The service and burial will take place on the Highveld Splendour family farm at 11:00 on Thursday (today).
The farm is situated 8km from Ermelo on the road between Ermelo and Breyten.
For free breaking and community news, visit our websites:
Ridge Times, Standerton Advertiser & Highvelder
Like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter.
For news straight to your phone invite us:
BBM – 2667A726
WhatsApp – 0748877590
