Top awards for auctioneers

OFTEN young people do not know what career to choose once they leave school and hardly anybody thinks of becoming an auctioneer. Yet two Namibians have recently shown that auctioneering of livestock, farms and farm implements can build a career with international recognition.

Piet Coetzee and Alex McDonald, co owners of NamBoer Auctioneers, have successfully competed in South Africa and in the US to become among the world’s top 15 auctioneers. Coetzee, who recently won the title of South African Champion Auctioneer, also received a gold merit award in the Orange Free State for being among the 20 best auctioneers in South Africa.He travelled to the US where he qualified as one of the 15 best auctioneers worldwide during the World Auctioneering Championships in Nashville, Tennessee.While there, he agreed to an exclusive training together with a difficult exam to qualify as an International Property Specialist, which he passed. He now holds a certificate as Certified Estate Specialist (CES). ‘I believe that my qualification contributes to the good prices Namboer Auctioneers achieved with farm auctions and other property auctions,’ said Coetzee. CES graduates have advanced education on all aspects of selling family estates and estate property through auction. Alex McDonald of Namboer qualified in 1996 as the youngest auctioneer in Namibia’s history at the South African Auctioneers College. Returning home, he established his reputation as auctioneer in the livestock market throughout the country, mainly for cattle and sheep. In July 2008 he participated in the National Auctioneers Association’s world championships in Nashville, Tennessee, and was ranked among the top 15 worldwide. While in the US, he also qualified as a ‘Personal Property Appraising Specialist’ which is internationally recognised.