Auctioneer from Krugersdorp strikes gold

After a fiercely contested competition against some of South Africa’s top auctioneers, Henco de Kock was named Auctioneer of the Year by the South African Institute of Auctioneers (SAIA).

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Henco said he clinched the title after an intense showdown with the country’s top auctioneers and impressed the judges with his commanding chant, precision and uncanny ability to read the room, which are hallmarks of a top-tier auctioneer.

“The annual SAIA Auctioneer of the Year competition is the pinnacle event for auctioneers nationwide, testing competitors not only on their bid-calling skills but also on their professionalism, presentation, and audience connection,” he explained.

Henco said the win is deeply personal to him and it is confirmation from God that he is doing what he’s supposed to do.

Honestly, I did not expect it. All the competitors were great.

“It is by the grace of God only that I have won. If you’re not one of the first to go up, the nerves start kicking in, and you start comparing yourself to the other competitors. Going first was an answered prayer for me,” he expressed.

He explained he was first in the line-up at the competition and opened with a combination lot, a boys’ and girls’ smartwatch bundle. It was a fast-paced item to sell, requiring both engagement and control. He delivered exactly that, with his now award-winning chant, which captivated the audience and set the tone for the contest.

“My path to the auction podium wasn’t a direct one. After high school, I explored a variety of fields, from engineering and architecture to logistics and law, and ultimately completed diplomas in logistics, insolvency law and corporate law. However, it was my time working under a well-known and highly sought-after insolvency practitioner that proved truly transformative,” he said.

He says winning this award places him in an elite position, with just a handful of past winners, and holds him to a new level of excellence.

Now, with the title in hand, Henco is aiming to compete internationally and is aiming for the International Auctioneer Championship in the United States of America.

“If I get a wildcard entry, it could be the start of something big, but I know success is never a solo effort. You need help from others, just as others were helped, I’ll be asking for support too,” he said.

His advice to aspiring auctioneers is grounded in faith and hard work.

Put in the work and trust God for the rest. God is not mocked, for whatever you sow, that you will also reap.

“And when you get there, stay on your knees, you can’t fall very far from there,” Henco concluded.