Founder & CEO of Namaste Corporate Events cc — high-end corporate events, corporate trips, and event design that doesn’t do ordinary. From Office Staff Motivational Days and Private Hunting Trips, to Formal Awards Evenings, Sarel’s built a career on getting the details right.
Sarel, the trusted leader of the pack, established Namaste Corporate Events in 1995. Endorsed on various platforms for leadership and business development, he realized the gap in the corporate niche market with the coming of the Rugby World Cup to South Africa in 1995, and used the opportunity to build a first class events company.
In the true blood of his adventurous spirit, his positive outlook, his passion for life, his nothing-is- impossible attitude and using the world as his playing field, no corporate challenge is too big. Famous for his creative mind and hands-on management, Sarel and his team ensure every event, local or international, is unique and will long be remembered, as international newspapers, including the Sydney Morning Herald and the local Natal Witness newspaper, have already reported.
His 20 years’ experience includes planning and building a five star luxury tented camp with the help of the local Touaregs, at the Timia Oasis in the middle of the Sahara Desert in West Africa, for an international corporate client, all for just two nights!
He will stop at nothing, as leading a corporate group in their “Roof of Africa” conference down the Sani Pass in Lesotho with forty two 4X4 vehicles through the 800 mm snow and ice proves. Namaste Corporate Events was the first and the last to do so!
He also assisted in the launching of National Geographic’s “Great Migrations” series, where he coordinated VIP and media clients in the Masai Mara Game Reserve in Kenia.
Having been a pilot himself, creating a party at ten thousand feet on a Douglas DC 4 airplane dated from the late 1940’s en route to a cross border destination is not far-fetched.
Leading expeditions on cross border corporate safaris into the wilderness of the Okavango Delta and Makgadikgadi Pans in Botswana and the Namib desert in Namibia is second nature and is guaranteed to get your adrenalin pumping, especially with a leopard or hippo just outside your overnight tent.
Launching the new Case Steiger, the most powerful tractor at its time ( 650 kw’s), took one thousand three hundred guests to the sky…
Whether you want a 7 day ski incentive trip to Italy, (which turned out to be the biggest party ever in -31 degrees where your booze freezes before you can drink it), or snorkeling and then a beach flower power or pirates party on an exotic island in Mozambique or the Seychelles, or staying local, with a big game yellowfin tuna deep sea challenge or just a Wild West year end party with 800 guests complete with a barber, jail and saloon, Sarel and his team will ensure a unique event each and every time.
No wonder the man was also invited by the University of Potchefstroom to lecture the young and upcoming events managers of tomorrow on some tricks of the trade.
Fanus, spiky hair and all, covers Sarel’s right flank and is the man in the pack you can count on. No challenge or problem is too big for him. As operational manager and director of entertainment, he is a very important person in our events company who makes all Sarel’s crazy ideas happen. He is a muse in his own right and his job is to keep our clients happy. He can do magic: at the click of a finger he turns into a waiter, a technician, a barman, a restaurant manager, a skipper, a pilot and even a DJ, just like that! Fanus is a man of many talents. He has a need for speed, and being an advanced driver instructor, he makes things happen fast. Whether you are in the Namib dunes, the mud of the Makgadikgadi Pans, or deep river crossing in the Okavango delta, make sure you stay close to him. His impressive passport, with all the custom stamps from around the globe, is testament to his fourteen years’ experience in the events business. And yes, sometimes he even dances on the table! Being dynamic and able to think on his feet, clients can rest assured that they are in good hands as Fanus accompanies Sarel on all our events.
Leonie, being responsible for finances, is the backbone of the pack. No business can survive without proper financial management and without Leonie’s commitment, Namaste Corporate Events would not be as efficient and professional as we are known for. In our events world it is important to secure venues and operators with deposits and on-time payments. She may be blond, but she is the cleverest of us all, ensuring financial peace of mind for our corporate clients and our providers. She even pays us from time to time!
Resident qualified ILS paramedic registered with the HPCSA, Jacques specializes in pre-hospital trauma life support. Jacques is also an internationally accredited medical instructor and has been deployed as an operational medic in Africa. All our events are subject to a risk analysis and it is Jacques’ job to make sure that we plan for every potential medical situation, giving our guests the peace of mind that we are prepared for any medical condition, wherever we are. By the way, Jacques is the king when coming to treat those symptoms of our customers who celebrate life to its full (those mornings-after-the-night-before) and, ladies, he loves doing CPR.
Janri has been keeping the pack on the run for the last three years by handling administration and coordinating logistics in the office. Finding the most suitable venues, keeping everyone informed, and being the voice to our clients are her responsibilities. She is not just a pretty face; she is a favourite with all our clients for her efficiency in daily client interactions. Her patience and extensive knowledge are her most valuable assets in handling the challenges of the events industry. She loves the events business, and from time to time, she also joins the rest of the team at events. All the wolves out there, be aware: we love her too...
Professional photographer, videographer, director and visual storyteller — founder of DW Photography.
With over two decades of professional experience, Deon van Wyk is a highly skilled photographer, videographer and creative director specialising in high-impact visual storytelling for corporate, agricultural, technical training and commercial markets.
As the driving force behind DW Photography, Deon delivers end-to-end production solutions — from concept development and directing to filming, photography and post-production — creating content that is not only visually striking but strategically aligned to business objectives.
His expertise lies in simplifying complex environments into clear, engaging visual narratives. This is particularly evident in the South African technical and training landscape, where diverse skill levels demand tailored, locally relevant content that international material often fails to address.
Deon’s deep understanding of lighting, composition and human connection ensures every production runs efficiently while maintaining a premium, cinematic quality. His work spans corporate campaigns, training systems, agricultural media, promotional content and music videos, including collaborations with leading South African artists and major labels.
Known for his professionalism, adaptability and solution-driven mindset, Deon consistently delivers content that enhances brand value, improves communication and drives real business results.
Core expertise: corporate and commercial photography and videography; training and technical video production; agricultural and industrial media; music video direction and cinematic storytelling; drone operations and aerial imaging; and the full production workflow, concept through to delivery.
Strategic. Cinematic. Results-driven. Passion + Talent + Experience = Unstoppable.
Not just a professional videographer to capture every moment and create amazing event memories, but also a professional musician. He acts like a real chameleon and adapts to any formal or informal audience. Whether singing famous songs with his guitar around the camp fire in the wilderness of Botswana, or the latest hits in front of a thousand strong corporate crowd.
Ruben, aka Junior, may be the youngest member of the team, but he has gained extensive experience that he applies effectively across both office administration and operations. Not only is he bad at jokes, but he is also a hard worker, quick learner, and a true team player, making him an excellent events manager and well-liked by our clients.
Gerry and Erich — aka Laurel and Hardy — believe me, as a team they pack the same powerful punch when it comes to creativity in Audio and AV matters. Wherever we go, be it in the city or the most remote wilderness, these two never fail to surprise our clients.
Gerry is a problem solver par excellence. Building structures and stages, planning the layout of what looks like millions of cables, and solving power supply issues when turning a huge aircraft hangar into a first class function venue for more than a thousand guests or doing vehicle launches, Gary is the man with a plan.
Erich is the creative visionary who can turn a parking basement into an amazing galaxy world, complete with foreign planets and creatures, using special effects like lasers and other up to date technology in a Star Wars Year End party.
Watch out, Jamie Oliver — our catering team, Dirk, Steven and John, will create the perfect food solution for you. These restaurateurs, who also own a restaurant in Pretoria East, are our official caterers.
At Namaste Corporate Events, we believe catering is a vital part of a successful event. It doesn’t just add to the uniqueness of our events — we take good food seriously. It must not be “common,” as Nataniel would say. Whatever challenge we throw at our catering team — from sourcing fresh produce at local markets with great care in the most remote areas, to a formal seafood dinner on a remote Mozambican beach, to a dinner for 800 guests in a parking basement, to serving delicious snacks at 10,000 feet in a Douglas DC-4 Skymaster — they’ve proven they can work in the most difficult circumstances. They have a passion for good food and excel at matching menus to our destinations. Our clients rave not only about the food, but the presentation and the whole dining experience.
Steven 
John 
Dirk