News in Short: South African Motoring and Industry Updates

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News in Short: South African Motoring and Industry Updates

Several important developments have emerged across South Africa's motoring and automotive sectors.

SANRAL Tender Under Scrutiny

The South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL) has acknowledged that the R1.57 billion Masekwaspoort tender awarded to a Chinese joint venture was affected by irregularities that undermined the lawfulness, fairness and rationality of the procurement process.

Driver's Licence Fraud Remains a Concern

The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) has warned that fraudulent driver's licence cards can be obtained for as little as R3,500. The organisation has announced plans to move away from physical identification documents in an effort to combat fraud.

Millions of Apps Removed

Google approved around 90% of Play Store submissions during 2025 but later removed two million apps. Users are encouraged to practise safe downloading habits by reviewing app permissions, reading user reviews and downloading applications only from trusted developers.

Fuel Price Relief Expected

Lower international petroleum prices between 29 May and 16 June resulted in significant over-recoveries for petrol and diesel. Petrol 95 showed an over-recovery of R2.73 per litre, Petrol 93 an over-recovery of R2.77 per litre, while wholesale diesel recorded an over-recovery of R4.76 per litre. However, these reductions may be offset by the return of the general fuel levy and other fuel-related taxes.

Vehicle Recalls Continue

The National Consumer Commission (NCC) has issued 17 vehicle recall notices affecting 39,164 vehicles since the start of the year. This follows more than 50,000 vehicle recalls recorded during the previous year.

Understanding South Africa's Vehicle Emissions Tax

South Africa applies a once-off Motor Vehicle CO₂ Emissions Tax, payable by manufacturers and importers on new vehicles. While exact annual collections are not published separately, historical estimates suggest the levy generates approximately R1 billion per year for the National Treasury.