Winner draws car key; chooses money instead
Ronelle Govender received R100 000 in Lombard Tyres' annual year end promotion.
Early on Saturday morning, 21 February in Durban, Ronelle Govender received a phone call from about 600 kilometres away. Her cousin Lynette Dawid excitedly told Ronelle that her bank account is about to grow with R100 000.
Every year Lombard Tyres holds a Year End Promotion, allowing their customers to enter a competition where they could either win a Kia Picanto or R100 000. This year, 21 finalists out of 13 858 entries were announced to meet at Kumho Africa Training Centre in Krugersdorp for the final draw.
“How’s the nerves?” asks Mauritz Lombard, founder of Lombard Tyres, teasingly.
After a nervous laugh from the crowd, consisting of the finalists and their close family members, Mauritz goes on to thank them for their loyalty and says that “this is how we give back to you”.
The News spoke to Lynette and her family, asking them about how they became finalists.
“My cousin Ronelle, the actual finalist, lives in Durban, so we came on her behalf,” she says
“Ronelle won the facebook competition and already received R1 000 on top of becoming a finalist.”
Yolandi Heyns, Marketing and Communications Manager of Lombard Tyres, tells that the promotion kicked off in October 2014. Customers that spent R500 or more qualified to enter the competition. The company auditors drew random names that resulted in the 21 finalists.
On the final day, 20 fake car keys and one real one, were placed in boxes. The finalists each had the opportunity to use their key, hoping it would unlock the golden Picanto.
After about seven finalists tried their luck, Lynette’s key appeared to be the real one. Mauritz had to phone Lynette and convince her that she had indeed won.
The News congratulated Ronelle on Monday where she confessed to her disbelief.
“I was so astonished and in shock that I randomly chose the money and not the car. I honestly have no good reason for choosing the cash,” she says.
“I am planning to finance my dream of teaching in Dubai.”
Lombard Tyres holds this year end promotion annually to show their appreciation towards loyal customers.
The News congratulates Ronelle and wishes her happy spending on that upgraded wardrobe she said she would like.
