SAIA Auctioneer of the Year for 2025

After a hard-fought auction-off competition against some of South Africa’s best Henco de Kock of Elite Auctions has been named the South African Institute of Auctioneers (SAIA) 2025 Auctioneer of the Year.

Henco clinched the title after an intense showdown with the country’s top auctioneers, impressing the judges with his commanding chant, precision, and uncanny ability to read the room—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.

For Henco, the win is deeply personal, “To me, it is confirmation from God that I am doing what I’m 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.”

SAIA Auctioneer of the Year for 2025

He added, “If you’re not one of the first to go up, the nerves really start kicking in and you start comparing yourself to the other competitors. Going first was an answered prayer for me.” He was first in the line-up at the competition and opened with a combination lot of 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.

Henco’s path to the auction podium wasn’t a direct one. After high school, he explored a variety of fields from engineering and architecture to logistics and law, ultimately completing diplomas in logistics, insolvency law and corporate law. However, it was his time working under a well-known and highly sought-after Insolvency Practitioner that proved truly transformative. The in-depth knowledge he gained during this period is part of what sets Elite Auctions apart when it comes to servicing the insolvency sector.

Winning SAIA Auctioneer of the Year places Henco in elite company—just a handful of past winners and holds him to a new level of excellence. “It’ll definitely give clients, especially major banks and high-net-worth companies, more confidence knowing they’re dealing with a recognised professional who is at the top of his game,” he says.

Now, with the title in hand, Henco hopes to go global. “I’d love to compete internationally,” he says, pointing to the International Auctioneer Championship (IAC) in the United States. “If I get a wildcard entry, it could be the start of something big.” But he knows success is never a solo effort. “You need help from others. Just as others were helped, I’ll be asking for support too.”