Airlink looking for 82 passengers, Chery’s newest car brand, and the official petrol price for May

These were the five biggest stories in South Africa’s transport industry this week.

Airlink is looking for these 82 passengers

South African airline Airlink is looking for the 82 passengers who boarded flight 4Z 132, from the island of St. Helena to Johannesburg on 25 April, due to potential exposure to Hantavirus.

The World Health Organisation, alongside South Africa’s public health authorities, are responding to a number of Hantavirus cases linked to passengers aboard the cruise ship MV Hondius.

According to Airlink, one of the ship’s 150 passengers left the cruise at St. Helena with the intention of returning to the Netherlands by air via Johannesburg aboard the airline’s flight 4Z 132.

Warning for South Africans with driving licences

South Africans presenting their driving licence cards to security guards at estates, office parks, and gated communities are being warned that these contain a lot of personal information.

The storage and handling of this information has become a point of contention for motorists, with many starting to ask what happens to personal information when their licence card is scanned.

According to access control and visitor management provider ATG Digital, the real issue is not the scanner, but the purpose, scope, and safeguards behind every scan.

Official petrol price increases for May announced

The official fuel price adjustments for May 2026 were implemented on Wednesday this week.

Both types of fuel went up, with petrol receiving a R3.27 per litre hike for both octanes. However, the initial diesel price provided by the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources was incorrect.

The department made an error that failed to account for a 93c per litre decrease in the General Fuel Levy. The actual price increase is R5.27 per litre, rather than the R6.19 per litre previously reported.

Warning for diesel vehicle owners in South Africa

Adulterated diesel is becoming more popular in South Africa amid growing concerns about the skyrocketing cost of fuel and possible shortages.

Adulteration occurs when fuel sellers mix diesel with cheaper substances, such as paraffin, kerosene, or lubricating oil, allowing them to pocket the difference while charging customers the full amount.

ESG Analytics economist Sifiso Skenjana warned that this is a growing issue in South Africa, with hundreds of petrol stations involved in adulterating fuel. 

New Chery Freelander brand on the cards for South Africa

Chery has officially unveiled Freelander, a new car brand that is almost certainly coming to South Africa.

Freelander is a nameplate that dates back to the 1990s. However, the brand has been revived as a collaboration between Chery and Jaguar Land Rover.

Conceptualised by ex-Land Rover designer Philip Simmons, Freelander will specialise in high-end SUVs with new-energy powertrains, including electric and plug-in hybrid options.

It is scheduled to launch in the Middle East later this year, though the company ultimately plans to launch in 90 markets worldwide within the next five years.