South African Motoring News: Licence Validity, Vehicle Recalls and Fuel Price Outlook

South Africa's automotive sector continues to evolve with important developments affecting motorists, dealerships and manufacturers. From changes to driver's licence validity periods and vehicle recalls to fuel price forecasts and infrastructure investment, here are this week's key stories.

SANRAL Returns to an Open Tender Process

The South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL) has reverted to an open tender process for routine road maintenance after the High Court ruled that its previous R9.5 billion tender process was unlawful and unconstitutional.

SANRAL had previously reduced more than 250 road maintenance contractors to a panel of just 20 companies selected from 401 bidders.

Toyota Recalls More Than 2,000 Urban Cruiser Models

Toyota South Africa Motors has notified the National Consumer Commission (NCC) of a recall affecting 2,208 Toyota Urban Cruiser models sold between 17 January and 3 June 2025.

According to Toyota, the affected vehicles may experience a fault where the low fuel warning light fails to illuminate as fuel levels drop, potentially resulting in the engine stalling after the vehicle runs out of fuel. Owners of affected vehicles are encouraged to contact their nearest Toyota dealer.

Driver's Licence Cards to Remain Valid for 10 Years

The South African government has officially approved extending the validity period of driver's licence cards from five years to 10 years.

Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni confirmed that Cabinet approved the extension during a post-Cabinet briefing on 30 July 2026. The change is expected to reduce renewal frequency for motorists while easing administrative pressure on the licensing system.

Mercedes-Benz Reports Lower Earnings

Mercedes-Benz reported a financial impact of approximately €1.392 billion during the first half of 2026, citing increased competition from domestic manufacturers and softer consumer demand as contributing factors.

Strategic Fuel Reserve Policy Published

The Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources has released its draft Strategic Petroleum Stock Policy for public comment.

The proposal outlines:

A state crude oil reserve equal to 90 days of net imports.
A requirement for manufacturers and wholesalers to maintain refined fuel stocks equivalent to 14 days of supply.

Proposal to Address the RAF Backlog

The Association for the Protection of Road Accident Victims (APRAV) has proposed creating a national Settlement Hub to help reduce the Road Accident Fund's backlog of approximately 100,000 outstanding claims.

The proposal would involve National Treasury funding to settle claims that are ready for payment while broader RAF reforms continue.