The chanting MD on a mission
Next time you visit a mining auction in the Limpopo Province, ask the guy on stage what it takes to become an auctioneer. You’ll soon realise that he’s more than your run of the mill chanter who loves a bit of auctioneering banter. His name is Lufuno Ramoyada, and he’s the Managing Director of, and a major shareholder in, Aucor Limpopo.
For fun, he likes doing the chanting at auctions himself, and if not at work, plays a bit of amateur rugby, runs the occasional marathon, and has ambitions to do the iron man. Lufuno seems to have a lot on his plate. At least (and he admits so himself) he plays terrible golf, so he does not have to spend too much time treading the greens of Limpopo.
Not that his workload would allow that anyway. Being the Managing Director of Aucor demands focus and solid discipline, personal traits that has served Lufuno well throughout his career.
Lufuno joined Aucor through a local skills development program that was initiated by De Beers Venetia Mine being the enabling partner with Aucor Bloemfontein. He started at Aucor as the National Business Development Manager in 2018 and later moved to become the general manager of Aucor Limpopo before being appointed as the managing director for Aucor Limpopo.
Although disciplined Lufuno describes himself as a very easy-going person, which he says helps him to adapt to different cultures and enables him to mingle with people from diverse backgrounds.
Another personal attribute that has elevated Lufuno and benefitted the company is his uncanny ability to build, grow and maintain relationships, which is non-negotiable in the auctioneering game.
He regards relationships as essential for being successful as a Managing Director and as a business, and has, throughout the years, built extremely close relationships with clients, including buyers and sellers.
Being part of the Aucor team fits Lufuno like a glove. “Our team is open and accessible and because of the structure we are able to make decisions on a whim. We support each other in reaching our targets and goals,” he says.
On the big day when the auction happens and everybody’s scuffling around, Lufuno goes through a mixed bag of emotions ranging from stress, worry, excitement and achievement. He plans and oversees all the activities from cataloguing assets, doing the actual chanting, to dispatching whatever he was able to auction off on the day.
So, if you do visit a mining auction in Limpopo, and you for one minute think that the babbling auctioneer is having a boring day, think again. With the adrenalin pumping, and ears buzzing, an auction can be as exciting as any iron man or ultra-marathon race.
Working directly with clients has installed in Lufuno a deep sense of duty and paying attention to the smallest detail. In a way, he says, the best way to make sure clients are happy, is to become a perfectionist and to always be prepared to walk the extra mile.
"This is what we do at Aucor. Here we are more than family. I know that somebody has always got my back. At Aucor, we walk the extra mile, not only for clients, but for each other and for the brand, no matter what,” he says.
“Aucor has helped me grow as an entrepreneur and in the process, I have sharpened my management skills. I am very grateful for the opportunities, and it is an honour and privilege to be associated with such a brand”.