The Presidential Excellence Awards 2024 – the ECA(SA)’s 12th Awards – evaluated projects from end-June 2023 through end July 2024, over 15 categories. The results were revealed at one of the best organised gala events at Emperor’s Palace, Johannesburg on Friday, 22 November 2024
The spirit and atmosphere of this year’s Presidential Excellence Awards was beyond joyful and celebratory: it took on a very special meaning of its own. Whilst this was only my second Presidential Excellence Awards, one couldn’t help but feel that this year, the awards have come into their own in a very important and energising way.
The sponsors, the guests, everyone – all were in the mood to get it right, and get it right they did. The effort to honour all who entered and achieved such winning results was shown in many ways, but without doubt, everyone looked (and according to (SA)’s National Director, Mark Mfikoe, smelled great too).
At this year’s gala event, held at Emperors Palace, the most important reason being there, was to celebrate excellence. the entries, finalists and winners showed us what excellence actually means. It would be wrong not to acknowledge that the organisers from with the ECA(SA) itself and some outside assistance also showed us what excellence really means.
The Awards announcements – of the runners up and the winners – was made very special indeed. These celebrations of excellence were truly elevated by the unique presence of not three, not four past presidents, but of seven past presidents, including ECA(SA)’s current president, Frans Swanepoel. The past presidents who honoured the winners by being their together, included Calli Pieterse, Michael Stratton, Giel Labuschagne, Johnny Cunniff and Thursdon Duncan.
The joy of celebrating the incredible development of the association and its continuous development of the services it provides its members in the presence of these luminaries of the ECA(SA) made it feel all the more meaningful – all more historic. To have such a wealth of leadership walking amongst us made the significance of the ECA(SA) and what is has accomplished over its 76 years very real, extremely valuable and indispensable.
