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  • Bennum van Jaarsveld op Eden FM: My Reis deur Mister Global SA

    Bennum van Jaarsveld op Eden FM: My Reis deur Mister Global SA

    Op 27 Augustus 2025 het ek lekker saam met Deon en Karen op Eden FM se Aksie met Reaksie gekuier en oor my ervaring met Mister Global South Africa 2025 gesels.

    Teen daardie tyd was die kompetisie klaar en kon ek vir die eerste keer behoorlik terugkyk na alles wat gebeur het.

    Ek het as tweede naaswenner van Mister Global SA 2025 geëindig, iets waarvoor ek baie dankbaar is. Maar as ek nou terugkyk, was die hele ervaring vir my oor baie meer as net waar ek geplaas het.

    Dit was ’n groot persoonlike uitdaging, veral om ná soveel jare weer terug te wees op ’n kompetisieverhoog.

    Hoekom weer Mister Global SA?

    Ek was in 2009 ’n Top 5-finalis in Mr South Africa, maar baie het natuurlik sedertdien verander.

    My loopbaan het ontwikkel, ek het in verskillende bedrywe gewerk en my werk as Master of Ceremonies het oor die jare al hoe meer deel van my lewe geword.

    Toe die geleentheid vir Mister Global SA kom, het ek gedink: Hoekom nie?

    Ek was ouer as die eerste keer, ek het meer lewenservaring gehad en ek het baie beter geweet wie ek is en waarvoor ek staan.

    Ek dink dit was deel van wat die ervaring hierdie keer so anders gemaak het.

    ’n Heel ander uitdaging as wat mense sien

    Van buite af lyk ’n kompetisie soos Mister Global dalk redelik eenvoudig.

    Mense sien die foto’s, die formele drag, die verhoog en uiteindelik die uitslag.

    Maar daar gebeur baie agter die skerms.

    Daar is voorbereiding, oefening, lang dae en natuurlik ook oomblikke waar jy wonder of jy regtig weer hiervoor kans gesien het.

    Vir my was dit juis daardie deel wat waardevol was.

    Dit het my weer uit my gemaksone gehaal en my gedwing om myself op ’n ander manier uit te daag.

    Tweede naaswenner van Mister Global SA 2025

    Om uiteindelik tweede naaswenner te wees, was natuurlik ’n baie spesiale oomblik.

    Jy sit baie tyd en moeite in iets soos hierdie, so dit is lekker om aan die einde te voel dat die harde werk raakgesien is.

    Maar ek dink die grootste ding wat ek uit Mister Global SA gekry het, was nie noodwendig die plasing nie.

    Dit was die ervaring self.

    Ek het nuwe mense ontmoet, nuwe dinge van myself geleer en weer besef dat dit nooit te laat is om iets nuuts aan te pak nie.

    My kuier op Eden FM

    Dit was lekker om daarna saam met Deon en Karen op Eden FM oor die hele ervaring te kon gesels.

    Ons het nie net oor Mister Global SA en die kompetisie gepraat nie, maar ook oor my loopbaan, die uitdagings langs die pad en wat die ervaring vir my persoonlik beteken het.

    Ons het ook gesels oor wat vorentoe lê.

    Ek het nog altyd verskillende belangstellings gehad. My werk as ’n seremoniemeester, spreker en fasiliteerder is ’n groot deel daarvan, maar ek geniet dit ook om myself met nuwe projekte en geleenthede uit te daag.

    Mister Global SA was beslis een van daardie ervarings wat my weer laat dink het oor wat nog moontlik is.

    Jy hoef nie klaar te wees nie

    Een ding wat ek beslis uit die hele ervaring geleer het, is dat jy nie op ’n sekere ouderdom hoef te besluit:

    “Wel, dit is nou maar dit.”

    Ons raak maklik vas in ons werk, ons roetines en wat ons dink ons veronderstel is om op ’n sekere ouderdom te doen.

    Ek dink daar is baie waarde daarin om jouself nou en dan weer ’n bietjie bang te maak.

    Probeer iets anders.

    Sê ja vir iets wat jy nie noodwendig ’n paar jaar gelede sou oorweeg het nie.

    Mister Global SA was vir my presies dit.

    Wat nou?

    Na ’n ervaring soos Mister Global SA vra mense natuurlik altyd:

    Wat is volgende?

    Ek dink nie ek het een groot dramatiese antwoord daarop nie.

    Ek wil eenvoudig aanhou om die werk te doen wat ek geniet, nuwe geleenthede aan te gryp en kyk waar die pad my vat.

    My werk as Master of Ceremonies, aanbieder en fasiliteerder bly ’n groot fokus.

    Ek geniet die mense.

    Ek geniet die verhoog.

    Ek geniet dit om deel te wees van geleenthede waar iets spesiaals gebeur.

    En ek is beslis nog nie klaar om myself uit te daag nie.

    Luister na die Eden FM-onderhoud

    As jy die hele gesprek wil hoor, kan jy die Aksie met Reaksie-onderhoud met Eden FM hier luister.

    Luister op Spotify

    Bennum van Jaarsveld: ’n Reis van Inspirasie by Mister Global SA – Eden FM

    Kyk op YouTube

    Jy kan die onderhoud ook hier kyk:

    Kyk na Bennum se Eden FM-onderhoud op YouTube

    Meer oor Eden FM en hul programme is beskikbaar op die Eden FM-webwerf.

    Dankie, Eden FM

    Baie dankie aan Deon, Karen en Eden FM vir die lekker gesprek en die geleentheid om ’n bietjie meer oor die Mister Global SA-reis te deel.

    Dit was ’n groot jaar, ’n interessante ervaring en beslis een wat ek nie gou sal vergeet nie.

    Ek het in 2025 as tweede naaswenner van Mister Global South Africa weggestap, maar ek dink die grootste wen was om myself weer uit te daag en te sien dat daar nog baie is wat voorlê.

    En nou?

    Ons kyk vorentoe.

    Op soek na ’n professionele Master of Ceremonies?

    Bennum is beskikbaar as Master of Ceremonies, aanbieder, moderator, fasiliteerder en spreker vir korporatiewe geleenthede, konferensies, troues, bekendstellings en ander funksies regoor Suid-Afrika.

    Lees meer oor Bennum Master of Ceremonies

    Kontak Bennum

    Lees ook

    Bennum on Gold FM: Mister Global SA Finalist

  • From Humble Beginnings to Master of Ceremonies of the Year 2026

    From Humble Beginnings to Master of Ceremonies of the Year 2026

    People often see the stage.

    They don’t always see what happened before it.

    Being recognised by Prestige Africa as Master of Ceremonies of the Year 2026 is an achievement I’m incredibly proud of.

    But when I think about the award, I don’t immediately think about polished stages, large corporate events or moments under the lights.

    I think about Pick n Pay and Builders Warehouse.

    Seriously.

    Because the beginnings of this journey go back around 15 years, to a time when I was deliberately looking for every opportunity I could find to become more comfortable behind a microphone.

    Learning how to use a microphone

    Corporate roles began putting me in front of people.

    Presentations had to be delivered.

    Messages had to be communicated.

    Sometimes somebody simply had to stand up and speak.

    I quickly realised that if I wanted to become comfortable speaking in front of an audience, there was only one real solution.

    I had to speak in front of audiences.

    Again.

    And again.

    And again.

    So I practised.

    On weekends, I would do in-store announcements for retailers including Pick n Pay and Builders Warehouse.

    It wasn’t glamorous.

    There was no spotlight.

    No impressive stage.

    And definitely no award waiting at the end of the announcement.

    But it gave me something much more useful.

    Experience.

    I learnt how my voice carried.

    I learnt how to communicate information clearly.

    I learnt how to sound confident even when I wasn’t necessarily feeling confident.

    I learnt to adjust my delivery.

    I learnt how people reacted.

    Most importantly, I became comfortable holding a microphone.

    Those small moments became part of the foundation for everything that followed.

    Someone has to give you a first opportunity

    There are people you remember because they believed in you before everybody else had a reason to.

    For me, two of those people were Rick Alan and Jason Greer at ProduXion House.

    They took me in.

    They gave me a chance.

    And those early opportunities mattered.

    Because nobody starts as the finished product.

    Behind every experienced Master of Ceremonies, presenter, facilitator or speaker are the awkward moments, the small jobs, the mistakes, the preparation, the nerves and the years spent learning the craft.

    People normally meet you after all of that.

    They see the result.

    They don’t necessarily see what it took to get there.

    What does a professional Master of Ceremonies actually do?

    Over the years, my work as a Master of Ceremonies in South Africa has taken me into very different environments.

    Corporate events.

    Conferences.

    Product launches.

    Awards evenings.

    Weddings.

    Formal functions.

    Panel discussions.

    Outdoor events and special occasions.

    And every audience is different.

    That’s one of the things I love most about the work.

    A professional MC isn’t simply somebody who stands on stage and introduces the next speaker.

    The role is far more involved.

    You need to understand why the event is happening in the first place.

    You need to understand the client, the programme and the audience.

    You need to keep things moving.

    You need to manage transitions.

    You need to know when the room needs energy and when the moment requires restraint.

    You need to listen.

    You need to adapt.

    And when something unexpected happens — because eventually something always does — you need to deal with it without making the audience feel as though anything has gone wrong.

    The job is often about making a great deal of preparation look effortless.

    That only comes with experience.

    Corporate MC, wedding MC, moderator and facilitator

    One of the interesting parts of my career has been learning how differently the role changes from one event to another.

    A corporate Master of Ceremonies may need to understand a brand, reinforce key messages and keep a conference programme running precisely to schedule.

    A wedding MC is working with one of the most personal days in a couple’s life. The tone needs to be warm, natural and personal while still making sure every important part of the programme happens when it should.

    A panel moderator needs to listen carefully, ask the right questions and create space for meaningful conversation.

    A facilitator needs to understand the objective and help a group reach it.

    The microphone might be the same.

    The job isn’t.

    Master of Ceremonies of the Year 2026

    That is why receiving the Prestige Africa Master of Ceremonies of the Year 2026 recognition means so much to me.

    It represents far more than one event or one year.

    It represents the weekends spent practising announcements.

    The first opportunities.

    The people who took a chance on me.

    The preparation nobody saw.

    The events where everything went exactly according to plan.

    And probably even more importantly, the events where something didn’t go according to plan and I learnt how to deal with it.

    Recognition is wonderful.

    But what makes it meaningful is knowing the work that came before it.

    No one sees the small beginnings

    We tend to celebrate people when something visible happens.

    An award.

    A successful business.

    A major event.

    A television appearance.

    A milestone.

    What we rarely see are all the ordinary days that came before it.

    The discipline.

    The repetition.

    The preparation.

    The disappointment.

    The decision to carry on.

    That’s why I have such an appreciation for small beginnings.

    Those in-store announcements may not have looked like an important part of a career at the time.

    But they were.

    Those first opportunities may have felt small.

    They weren’t.

    They were teaching me skills I would use years later on much bigger stages.

    Never underestimate where you start

    If there is one thing this journey has taught me, it is this:

    Never underestimate the small beginnings.

    You don’t know which seemingly insignificant opportunity is quietly teaching you something you’re going to need five, ten or fifteen years later.

    The stage I’m standing on today was built long before anybody was handing me an award.

    One announcement.

    One event.

    One opportunity.

    One microphone at a time.

    And to Rick Alan and Jason Greer — thank you for giving me a chance when I was still figuring it all out.

    To every client who has trusted me with their event, every audience I’ve had the privilege of speaking to and every person who has contributed to this journey:

    Thank you.

    Master of Ceremonies of the Year 2026.

    This one means a lot.

    And we’re not finished yet.

    Looking for a professional Master of Ceremonies in South Africa?

    Bennum is an award-winning Master of Ceremonies, corporate MC, wedding MC, moderator, presenter and facilitator, available for events throughout South Africa.

    From corporate conferences and launches to weddings, awards evenings and special events, the goal remains the same: a professionally managed event, an engaged audience and a programme that flows seamlessly from beginning to end.

    Book Bennum Master of Ceremonies

  • What Does Success Really Mean? My Top 100 Most Influential Men Journey

    What Does Success Really Mean? My Top 100 Most Influential Men Journey

    What Does Success Really Mean? My Top 100 Most Influential Men Journey

    Being recognised as one of South Africa’s Top 100 Most Influential Men of 2025 was an incredible honour.

    But recognition has a way of making you think about a question that sounds simple until you really try to answer it.

    What is success?

    Is it an award?

    A title?

    A career milestone?

    A television interview?

    Standing on a stage?

    For me, success has increasingly come to mean something different.

    Success is what you do with the opportunities you’ve been given — and whether those opportunities allow you to make a difference beyond yourself.

    From the Eastern Cape to Johannesburg

    My journey certainly wasn’t mapped out from the beginning.

    Originally from the Eastern Cape, I studied BCom Law at what is now Nelson Mandela University before my professional journey eventually took me into communications, public relations, media, marketing, branding and business.

    That career placed me in situations where communication mattered.

    Representing organisations, working with media, delivering messages and speaking to different audiences gradually developed another skill and opened another door.

    Public speaking.

    That eventually became part of my work as a professional Master of Ceremonies, presenter, facilitator and speaker.

    None of those individual moments looked particularly dramatic at the time.

    But looking back, each one contributed to the next.

    Being named among South Africa’s Top 100 Most Influential Men

    In 2025, I was honoured to be recognised as one of the Top 100 Most Influential Men in South Africa.

    NovaNews subsequently shared more of my story, covering the journey from my Eastern Cape beginnings and corporate communications career to public speaking, pageantry and community involvement.

    Read the NovaNews feature on my Top 100 Most Influential Men recognition

    It was wonderful recognition.

    But it also raised another question for me.

    What does influence actually mean?

    Influence and fame are not the same thing

    I’ve come to believe that influence isn’t about how many people know your name.

    It’s about whether you can change something.

    Sometimes that change is enormous.

    Sometimes it affects a community.

    And sometimes it simply means helping one person.

    My involvement in community upliftment has repeatedly reminded me of this.

    When you’re exposed to the realities faced by people who are worrying about things as basic as their next nutritious meal, titles and achievements quickly find their proper place.

    They can be valuable.

    They can create opportunities.

    They can give you a platform.

    But the important part is what you choose to do with that platform.

    I believe strongly in creating environments where people can develop a sense of ownership, dignity and pride.

    Real change isn’t simply about doing something for a community.

    Where possible, it should help people become part of changing their own circumstances.

    What does success mean?

    This subject also became part of my Global Leaders interview, produced by Big M Productions.

    The conversation explored leadership, believing in yourself, community upliftment and my own understanding of success.

    Watch my Global Leaders interview

    For me, success isn’t one achievement.

    It’s certainly not one award.

    Success is being able to look at where you started, understand the work it took to move forward and then find a way to use what you’ve learnt to contribute something useful.

    It is believing in yourself — even when the next step isn’t obvious.

    It is remaining willing to learn.

    It is recognising opportunities when they arrive.

    And it is remembering that influence without purpose doesn’t mean very much.

    Bringing purpose into professional life

    These lessons follow me into my professional work as well.

    Being a Master of Ceremonies is, on the surface, about hosting an event.

    But the role is ultimately built around people.

    A professional MC needs to understand the message an organisation is trying to communicate, connect with an audience, create the right atmosphere and give other people the space to tell their stories.

    Whether I’m hosting a corporate conference, moderating a panel discussion, speaking at an event or working with a community initiative, that human connection remains the common thread.

    Recognition is wonderful. Impact matters more.

    I’m enormously grateful for the recognition of being included among the Top 100 Most Influential Men in South Africa in 2025.

    It’s one of those moments I’ll always be proud of.

    But perhaps the biggest value of recognition is that it reminds you not to stop.

    There is always more to learn.

    More to contribute.

    More people to encourage.

    And more opportunities to use whatever influence you have responsibly.

    So, what is success?

    My answer today is fairly simple:

    Believe in yourself. Keep moving. Help where you can. And leave the people and places you encounter a little better than you found them.

    That, to me, is success.

    Professional Master of Ceremonies and Speaker

    Bennum is available as a Master of Ceremonies, moderator, facilitator and presenter for corporate events, conferences, launches and functions throughout South Africa.

    Find out more about Bennum Master of Ceremonies

  • Mister Global South Africa: From the Expresso Show to the Top 3

    Mister Global South Africa: From the Expresso Show to the Top 3

    Some journeys are about winning.

    Others remind you how much you are capable of becoming.

    My Mister Global South Africa 2025 journey did exactly that.

    In July 2025, while competing as a Mister Global South Africa finalist, I had the privilege of joining Graeme Richards on the Expresso Show to talk about the competition, the journey that had brought me back onto the pageant stage and some of the things that matter to me beyond it.

    For me, Mister Global South Africa was never simply about walking onto a stage.

    It was about challenging myself again.

    Returning to pageantry years later

    My relationship with pageantry started many years earlier.

    In 2009, I competed in Mr South Africa, finishing in the Top 5 and receiving the Businessman of the Year Award.

    Then life moved on.

    My corporate career developed through communications, public relations, media, marketing and business. My work as a professional Master of Ceremonies grew, and new opportunities and challenges arrived.

    Years later, I found myself facing the opportunity to step onto the competition stage again.

    This time I was older.

    Hopefully wiser.

    Definitely more experienced.

    And far more comfortable with who I was.

    Mister Global South Africa 2025

    Returning to a national competition after so many years required discipline and a willingness to become uncomfortable again.

    That was part of the attraction.

    It’s very easy to tell people to keep challenging themselves.

    It’s another thing entirely to do it yourself.

    The journey ultimately ended with me finishing in the Top 3 as second runner-up at Mister Global South Africa 2025.

    But the value of the experience went far beyond a placing.

    It reminded me that growth doesn’t have an age limit and that sometimes the best way to discover what you’re capable of is to put yourself in a position where you have something new to prove — mostly to yourself.

    My Expresso Show interview with Graeme Richards

    One of the memorable moments of the journey was appearing on the Expresso Show with Graeme Richards.

    Our conversation touched on the Mister Global South Africa journey and the broader experiences that had brought me to that point.

    For someone whose professional life involves communication, presenting and connecting with audiences, sitting down on a national television programme offered a very different perspective.

    It was also a chance to talk about something I believe strongly:

    Success needs to have purpose beyond yourself.

    Watch my Mister Global South Africa interview on the Expresso Show

    More than appearance

    Pageantry is often viewed from the outside as being largely about appearance.

    For me, the experience represented much more.

    It was about discipline, communication, confidence, personal growth and purpose.

    It was also about the way we use whatever platform we’re fortunate enough to have.

    Community upliftment has remained important to me throughout my personal and professional life.

    I believe influence carries responsibility.

    Whether that means supporting community initiatives, creating awareness, helping where you can or encouraging someone to believe that their current circumstances don’t have to determine their future, there should be something beyond the title or the photograph.

    That belief affects the way I approach community projects, speaking engagements and my work as a Master of Ceremonies in South Africa.

    The value of starting again

    There is something powerful about starting again when you’re no longer a beginner.

    You arrive with experience, but you also arrive with expectations.

    You have to be willing to put those aside.

    Mister Global South Africa reminded me that there will always be another challenge to take on, another area in which to grow and another opportunity to become better at what you do.

    From returning to the pageant stage, to appearing on the Expresso Show, to eventually standing among the Top 3 of Mister Global South Africa 2025, the journey became one of the highlights of an already unexpected career.

    And perhaps the biggest lesson was simple:

    You are never too established, too old or too far down another road to challenge yourself again.

    Sometimes your second act surprises you.

    From the competition stage to the event stage

    Today, Bennum works as a Master of Ceremonies, wedding MC, presenter, moderator and facilitator, hosting corporate and private events across South Africa.

    Explore Bennum’s Master of Ceremonies services

  • Van Benjamin na Bennum: My kuier op Hier sit die manne

    Van Benjamin na Bennum: My kuier op Hier sit die manne

    Soms is dit juis die onverwagte dele van jou storie wat jou op plekke laat beland wat jy nooit sou kon voorsien nie.

    In my geval was dit my naam.

    Op 15 April 2026 het ek die voorreg gehad om op VIA se gewilde Afrikaanse program Hier sit die manne te verskyn, aangebied deur Frank Rautenbach, nadat ek as een van Huisgenoot se Naamgenoot-wenners gekies is.

    En die rede waarom ek voor die kameras beland het?

    Bennum.

    Bennum is afgelei van my doopnaam, Benjamin, maar oor die jare het dit veel meer as net ’n variasie van my naam geword.

    Dit is die naam waarby mense my persoonlik én professioneel ken. Dit het deel van my identiteit geword en is vandag ook die naam agter Bennum Master of Ceremonies.

    Ek het net nooit gedink my naam sou my eendag op televisie laat beland nie.

    ’n Naam met ’n storie

    Huisgenoot se Naamgenoot-kompetisie was op soek na Suid-Afrikaners met interessante, ongewone of betekenisvolle name — en natuurlik die stories daaragter.

    Die uiteindelike Naamgenote het nie net die geleentheid gekry om hul stories met Huisgenoot te deel nie, maar ook om saam met Frank Rautenbach op Hier sit die manne op VIA te kuier en meer oor hul name te vertel.

    Jy kan meer oor die oorspronklike Huisgenoot Naamgenoot-projek hier lees.

    Vir my was dit ’n besonder lekker ervaring.

    Frank het die vermoë om ’n gesprek gemaklik, spontaan en natuurlik te laat voel. In plaas daarvan dat dit soos ’n formele televisie-onderhoud gevoel het, was dit eerder ’n lekker kuier en gesels.

    Vir iemand wat ’n groot deel van sy professionele lewe met ’n mikrofoon in die hand deurbring, was dit nogal verfrissend om vir ’n slag aan die ander kant van die gesprek te sit.

    Wanneer jou naam deel van jou identiteit word

    As ek vandag daarna terugkyk, is dit eintlik heel gepas dat Bennum die rede vir my verskyning op Hier sit die manne was.

    Ek het deur die jare besef hoe belangrik identiteit is.

    Of ek nou ’n korporatiewe geleentheid aanbied, ’n paneelgesprek fasiliteer, saam met ’n bruidspaar aan hul trouprogram werk of voor ’n gehoor staan — mense hoor dalk eerste jou naam, maar uiteindelik onthou hulle hoe jy hulle laat voel het.

    Jou naam stel jou bekend. Jou karakter gee betekenis aan daardie naam.

    Bennum verteenwoordig vandag jare se werk met gehore, handelsmerke, ondernemings, bruidsparen en gemeenskappe regoor Suid-Afrika.

    Dit verteenwoordig ’n loopbaan wat my al op verhoë, agter mikrofone, in raadskamers en, so nou en dan, voor ’n televisiekamera laat beland het.

    Van die mikrofoon na die televisiekamera

    My werk as ’n professionele seremoniemeester gaan meestal daaroor om seker te maak dat iemand anders se geleentheid, boodskap of spesiale oomblik die aandag kry wat dit verdien.

    ’n Goeie seremoniemeester moet die gehoor kan lees, die verloop van ’n geleentheid bestuur, duidelik kommunikeer en weet wanneer om die kollig op iemand anders te plaas.

    Televisie draai daardie rolle nogal vinnig om.

    Skielik is jy die een oor wie die vrae gevra word.

    Gelukkig het Frank die hele ervaring gemaklik laat voel. Wat maklik ’n intimiderende televisie-onderhoud kon wees, het eerder een van daardie geleenthede geword waarna ek nog lank met ’n glimlag sal terugkyk.

    Daar was kameras, televisiegrimering, oomblikke agter die skerms en natuurlik baie lekker gesels.

    En dit alles as gevolg van een ongewone naam.

    ’n Lekker kuier saam met Frank Rautenbach

    Hier sit die manne is ’n bekende Afrikaanse geselsprogram op VIA waarin Frank Rautenbach met verskillende gaste kuier en gesels.

    Dit was vir my besonders om deel te kon wees van ’n program waar gesprekke natuurlik en ongekunsteld kan verloop.

    Daar is iets lekker daaraan om nie net oor werk, loopbane of prestasies te praat nie, maar ook oor die persoon en die storie daaragter.

    In hierdie geval het die storie by my naam begin.

    Benjamin. Bennum.

    ’n Klein verandering wat uiteindelik ’n groot deel van my identiteit geword het.

    Meer as net ’n naam

    My professionele reis het my oor die jare deur verskeie wêrelde geneem — van korporatiewe kommunikasie en openbare betrekkinge tot bemarking, openbare optredes, gemeenskapsbetrokkenheid, aanbiedingswerk en my loopbaan as seremoniemeester in Suid-Afrika.

    Elke ervaring het op sy eie manier iets bygedra tot die persoon wat ek vandag is.

    My verskyning op Hier sit die manne was nog ’n onverwagte hoofstuk in daardie verhaal.

    Dit het my ook weer daaraan herinner dat dit soms juis die dinge is wat ons anders maak, wat gevier moet word.

    Ons probeer so maklik inpas.

    Maar dikwels is dit die naam, storie, persoonlikheid of ervaring wat jou ’n bietjie anders maak, wat mense uiteindelik onthou.

    Iewers langs die pad het Benjamin vir Bennum geword.

    En ek dink Bennum het nogal goed uitgewerk.

    Nog baie stories om te vertel

    Van televisie en media tot korporatiewe geleenthede, troues, konferensies en spesiale funksies — ek het die voorreg gehad om oor die jare baie verskillende mense en stories te ontmoet.

    En ek glo daar lê nog heelwat hoofstukke voor.

    My kuier saam met Frank Rautenbach op Hier sit die manne sal beslis een van die lekker herinneringe bly.

    Alles omdat ’n ongewone naam sy eie storie gehad het.

    Bennum.

    Dis ’n naam wat ek vandag met trots dra.

    Op soek na ’n professionele seremoniemeester in Suid-Afrika?

    Bennum is beskikbaar as seremoniemeester, korporatiewe MC, trou-MC, moderator, fasiliteerder, aanbieder en spreker vir geleenthede regoor Suid-Afrika.

    Van korporatiewe funksies en konferensies tot troues, bekendstellings, paneelbesprekings en spesiale geleenthede — die doel bly om mense bymekaar te bring, die program professioneel te laat vloei en die gehoor deel van die ervaring te maak.

    Lees meer oor Bennum se Master of Ceremonies-dienste

  • LEADERSHIP · INFLUENCE · PURPOSE · SOUTH AFRICA

    LEADERSHIP · INFLUENCE · PURPOSE · SOUTH AFRICA

    Being Named One of South Africa’s Top 100 Most Influential Men 2025

    A recognition of leadership, influence, achievement and the positive difference we can make in the lives of others.

    27 April 2025 Top 100 Recognition

    An Incredible Honour

    Top 100 Most Influential Men in South Africa

    Top 100 Most Influential Men

    2025 Recognition

    27 April Freedom Day

    On 27 April 2025, I had the incredible honour of being recognised as one of the Top 100 Most Influential Men in South Africa.

    It was one of those moments that makes you stop for a second.

    Not because of the title itself, but because of what the recognition represents.

    The Top 100 Awards recognise people for their leadership, influence, achievements and contribution to uplifting others.

    For me, it felt like a culmination of many different parts of my life.

    My career. My work as a Master of Ceremonies. The people I have met. The communities I have been part of. The challenges I have faced.

    And hopefully, the positive difference I have managed to make along the way.

    What Influence Means to Me

    Influence is an interesting word.

    I do not think influence is about being the loudest person in the room or having the biggest platform.

    For me, it is much more personal than that.

    What Influence Means

    “It is about how you make people feel.”

    It is about whether you encourage someone. Whether you help someone.

    Whether you use your position, however big or small, to create something positive.

    That is what made this award meaningful to me.

    It reminded me that the things we do every day matter. Often far more than we realise.

    Leadership Using your position to guide, encourage and create something positive for the people around you.

    Upliftment Helping people, supporting communities and creating a positive difference wherever possible.

    Purpose Continuing to grow, challenge yourself and use whatever platform you have with intention.

    My Work as a Master of Ceremonies

    A large part of my life has been spent on stage as a professional Master of Ceremonies, presenter, moderator and facilitator.

    And something I have learnt over the years is that an MC has a unique responsibility.

    You are not there simply to introduce the next speaker.

    You are there to guide the event. You are there to connect the programme with the audience.

    You are there to read the energy, respond when things change and help the people around you feel comfortable.

    Sometimes that means being energetic. Sometimes it means being serious. Sometimes it means knowing when to say less.

    Every event is different. And every audience is different.

    That is one of the things I love most about being a Master of Ceremonies in Johannesburg and across South Africa.

    No two events are ever exactly the same.

    The Person Behind the Microphone Matters

    The MC Can Change How an Entire Event Feels

    Over the years I have realised that the person behind the microphone can have a huge impact on how an event feels.

    An MC can bring people together. An MC can help an audience relax. An MC can create momentum when energy drops.

    And when something unexpected happens — which it often does at live events — the MC can help make sure the audience never feels the panic happening behind the scenes.

    That takes experience. But more than that, it takes an understanding of people.

    Corporate Functions

    Awards Ceremonies

    Weddings

    Gala Dinners

    Panel Discussions

    Sporting Events

    And I think that is where the idea of influence connects very closely with what I do professionally.

    Communication

    “Communication matters. How we speak to people matters. And how we treat people matters even more.”

    Gratitude and Purpose

    Being named one of South Africa’s Top 100 Most Influential Men was an incredible honour.

    But I do not see it as a destination.

    For me, it is another reminder to keep living with gratitude and purpose.

    To keep helping where I can. To keep challenging myself. And to keep trying to make a difference in the lives of the people I meet.

    Life has taught me that success does not always arrive in the way you expect.

    Sometimes it is an award. Sometimes it is a new opportunity. Sometimes it is simply someone telling you that something you said or did helped them.

    Those moments matter too. Probably more than we realise.

    A Proud South African Moment

    Receiving this recognition on Freedom Day, 27 April, made the experience even more meaningful.

    I am incredibly proud to work with people and organisations across South Africa as a professional MC, event host, moderator and facilitator.

    Whether I am hosting a corporate function, awards ceremony, wedding, gala dinner, panel discussion or sporting event, I never take the responsibility lightly.

    Every event is an opportunity to connect with someone.

    And every interaction has the potential to leave an impression.

    That is something this award reminded me of once again.

    Looking Ahead

    I am very grateful for the recognition, but there is still a lot I want to do.

    There are more audiences I want to connect with. More events I want to host. More projects I want to be involved in. And more opportunities to grow.

    Being named one of the Top 100 Most Influential Men in South Africa 2025 is something I will always be proud of.

    But for me, the most important part is what comes next.

    Keep Growing

    Keep Helping

    Keep Showing Up

    Make a Positive Difference

    MASTER OF CEREMONIES · MODERATOR · FACILITATOR

    Looking for a Master of Ceremonies Who Understands People?

    Bennum brings professional stage experience, confident communication and genuine audience connection to corporate events, conferences, awards evenings, weddings and events across South Africa. Enquire About Bennum

  • MISTER GLOBAL SOUTH AFRICA · PERSONAL JOURNEY · 2025

    MISTER GLOBAL SOUTH AFRICA · PERSONAL JOURNEY · 2025

    Top 3 at Mister Global South Africa 2025

    A journey of growth, courage, self-belief and stepping outside my comfort zone.

    27 July 2025 Pretoria

    Mister Global South Africa 2025

    An Incredible Top 3 Finish

    Top 3 South Africa

    Director’s Choice Award

    Debutant Award

    In 2025, I decided to do something that pushed me completely out of my comfort zone. I entered the Mister Global South Africa competition.

    For me, it was never only about the competition itself. It was about growth, challenging myself, doing something brave and proving to myself that it is never too late to take on something new.

    The theme for 2025 was “Men of Essence”, and that really resonated with me.

    The competition was not only focused on appearance or physical discipline. It was about the full person — leadership, influence, community involvement, business acumen, confidence and how you contribute to the people around you.

    That made the journey far more meaningful to me.

    Stepping Outside My Comfort Zone

    As a Master of Ceremonies, I am very comfortable being on stage.

    I have spent years working with audiences, hosting events, presenting, facilitating and adapting to all kinds of people and environments.

    But this was different.

    I was not standing on stage as the MC. This time, I was the one being judged.

    That brought a completely different kind of pressure.

    The competition challenged us in areas such as networking, sponsorship, funding generation, ambassadorship and business skills.

    It required a lot of confidence, but also vulnerability. And that was probably one of the biggest lessons for me.

    One of the Biggest Lessons

    “Sometimes growth comes when you put yourself in a position where you do not have all the answers.”

    Top 3 in South Africa

    The final gala and crowning took place in Pretoria on 27 July 2025.

    I was incredibly honoured to finish as Second Runner-Up, placing me in the Top 3 in South Africa.

    I also received the Director’s Choice Award and the Debutant Award.

    That was something I was genuinely proud of.

    When I entered, I wanted to challenge myself. To finish in the Top 3 made the entire journey even more special.

    Challenge Yourself Growth often begins when you are willing to do something unfamiliar and uncomfortable.

    Reinvent Yourself You are allowed to take a different direction and pursue something new at any stage of life.

    Believe in Yourself Sometimes the greatest limitation is the one we place on ourselves before we even begin.

    It Is Never Too Late

    One of the biggest things I took from the Mister Global South Africa journey is that it is never too late to follow a dream or take on a new challenge.

    You are allowed to reinvent yourself.

    You are allowed to try something different.

    And you are allowed to be uncomfortable while doing it.

    The experience reminded me how important self-belief is. It also reminded me how much courage it sometimes takes simply to put yourself forward.

    For me, Mister Global South Africa was not an ending. It was another stepping stone.

    There are still things I want to achieve, projects I want to take on and new experiences I want to have.

    What the Journey Taught Me as an MC

    Seeing the Stage From Both Sides

    Interestingly, the experience also gave me a new perspective on my work as a professional Master of Ceremonies.

    When you are the person on stage guiding an event, you see the event from one side.

    When you are the person standing on stage being judged, interviewed or introduced, you see it from another.

    You realise again how important it is for an MC to make people feel comfortable. How important a good introduction is. How important timing, energy and communication are.

    And how much difference it makes when the person holding the microphone actually understands the people standing next to them.

    Corporate Events

    Weddings

    Awards Evenings

    Sporting Events

    Panel Discussions

    That is something I carry into every event I host.

    Whether I am working as a Johannesburg MC, hosting a corporate event, wedding, awards evening, sporting event or panel discussion, my aim is always the same:

    Every Event

    “Connect with the people in front of me and make the event feel natural.”

    Grateful for the Journey

    I am incredibly grateful for the Mister Global South Africa experience and for everyone who supported me throughout the journey.

    It challenged me.

    It stretched me.

    It made me vulnerable.

    And it reminded me that there is always another version of yourself waiting on the other side of a challenge.

    Finishing in the Top 3 in South Africa was something I will always be proud of.

    But the biggest reward was probably the growth that happened along the way.

    And that journey is far from finished.

    MASTER OF CEREMONIES · SPEAKER · FACILITATOR

    A Personal Journey That Changed the Way I Step Onto a Stage

    Bennum brings professional event experience, personal insight and genuine audience connection to corporate events, conferences, weddings, panels and speaking engagements across South Africa. Enquire About Bennum

  • PERSONAL JOURNEY · PPMC MAGAZINE · SPEAKING

    PERSONAL JOURNEY · PPMC MAGAZINE · SPEAKING

    Passion, Purpose & New Beginnings

    24 October 2025 PPMC Magazine

    Passion, purpose, new beginnings.

    The last 15 months have been filled with destined endings, change, and fresh starts. A journey of unbecoming and letting go. 2025 was a year of challenge and revelation.

    Gently clearing out and saying goodbye to what no longer aligns. Contacts and “friends” have come and gone. And what remains is rock solid.

    Bennum van Jaarsveld featured in PPMC Magazine South Africa Issue 160

    PPMC Magazine South Africa

    Passion, Purpose & New Beginnings

    Thank you PPMC Magazine South Africa for this beautiful feature – a summary of my path, humble beginnings and a celebration of fresh starts.

    Read the article on P38 of the new issue #160.

    Issue #160 Page 38

    Read Issue 160

    Bennum’s New Talk

    My Journey for a Title — Lessons for Life and Business

    I gladly share my story in my new talk: “My journey for a title – lessons for life and business.” Hear why your biggest support often comes from strangers.

    Book me now to inspire your groups, teams and staff

    074 5898 313

    hello@bennum.co.za

    #passion#purpose#NewBeginnings#speaker#motivation#grateful

  • Bennum – Occupational Health & Safety Speaker

    Bennum – Occupational Health & Safety Speaker

    CORPORATE EVENTS · LEADERSHIP · WORKPLACE WELLNESS

    Master of Ceremonies & Leadership Speaker at the Occupational Health & Safety Conference

    16 October 2025 Middelburg

    Bennum van Jaarsveld Master of Ceremonies and leadership speaker at an Occupational Health and Safety conference

    Inspired and grateful to be the Master of Ceremonies and Leadership Speaker at the Occupational Health and Safety, Wellness and Compliance Conference for the mining industry.

    On 16 October in Middelburg, I had the privilege of serving as Master of Ceremonies and Leadership Speaker at the Occupational Health and Safety, Wellness and Compliance Conference with Dr M Jina .

    Bringing people together around important conversations is one of the parts of being a Master of Ceremonies that I value most. Events such as this are about more than keeping a programme moving — they create an opportunity for people to connect, listen, learn and take meaningful ideas back into the workplace.

    “Take care of your staff and they’ll take care of your business.”

    Mental Health and Wellness in the Workplace

    One of the big topics of the conference was mental health and wellness — something which impacts employees across every level of an organisation.

    Occupational health, workplace wellness and employee wellbeing are important conversations, particularly in demanding industries such as mining. Creating space for these discussions helps organisations build healthier teams and more sustainable workplaces.

    Bennum van Jaarsveld at the Occupational Health and Safety Wellness and Compliance Conference in Middelburg
    Occupational Health and Safety conference for the mining industry in Middelburg

    Event Details

    Conference Occupational Health & Safety, Wellness and Compliance Conference

    Industry Mining Industry

    Location Middelburg

    The Corn and Cob, Middelburg

    The Corn and Cob in Middelburg was the ideal venue for the conference, with great service and food.

    #miningindustry#occupationalhealth#mentalhealth#conference#bennumMC#MasterOfCeremonies

    MASTER OF CEREMONIES · LEADERSHIP SPEAKER · FACILITATOR

    Planning a Corporate Conference or Leadership Event?

    Bennum brings structure, energy and professional audience engagement to conferences, leadership events and corporate programmes across South Africa. Enquire About Your Event

  • Bennum on Gold FM: Mr Global SA Finalist

    Bennum on Gold FM: Mr Global SA Finalist

    GOLD FM · MISTER GLOBAL SA · PERSONAL JOURNEY

    Bennum on Gold FM: Mister Global SA Finalist & Finding Your Second Wind After 40

    A conversation about pageantry, purpose, community, lifestyle changes and starting a new chapter later in life.

    10 April 2025 Gold FM Interview

    PAGEANTRY · PURPOSE · NEW BEGINNINGS

    Sometimes the next chapter of your life begins when you decide you’re not finished yet.

    Thank you Gold FM for the casual chat about my journey as a Mister Global SA Finalist, and catching your second wind after 40.

    I thoroughly enjoyed the time with Caria Khats, talking about the journey back to pageantry, the different passions that have shaped my life, community involvement, healthier living and what competing for the Mister Global South Africa title means to me.

    The Conversation

    “Catching your second wind after 40.”

    The Questions Gold FM Asked Me

    01

    With being a Top 5 finalist in Mr South Africa in 2009, what made you decide to get back on stage to enter Mr Global SA after so many years?

    02

    From pageantry, to being a Master of Ceremonies, a motivational speaker and working in the insurance industry — tell us more about your passions?

    03

    How important is being involved in the community and being part of community upliftment to you?

    04

    You have undergone a few lifestyle changes to become healthier and happier. What advice do you have for those who are also looking to make some changes?

    05

    What would winning Mr Global SA mean to you?

    06

    Is there any way that the Goldfields community can help you reach your goal of being the next Mr Global SA?

    Listen to the Interview

    Bennum on Gold FM

    Listen to the conversation about Mister Global SA, purpose, personal growth and finding a second wind after 40.

    More Than a Pageant Journey

    The conversation touched on much more than competing for a title. It was also about the experiences, values and passions that have shaped the journey along the way.

    Pageantry Returning to the stage years after being a Top 5 Mr South Africa finalist in 2009.

    Speaking & MC Work A passion for connecting with people as a Master of Ceremonies and motivational speaker.

    Community Community involvement, upliftment and using opportunities to make a positive difference.

    MASTER OF CEREMONIES · SPEAKER · FACILITATOR

    Looking for a Speaker Who Brings a Real Story to the Stage?

    Bennum brings personal experience, professional presence and genuine audience connection to corporate events, conferences, leadership programmes and speaking engagements. Enquire About Bennum