These were the five biggest stories in South Africa’s transport industry this week.
Official petrol price adjustments for August
The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) has announced the official fuel price adjustments for August 2024.
Thankfully, both diesel and petrol are seeing a reduction this month, albeit a small one.
The improved prices are attributed to a strengthening rand/US dollar exchange rate and a drop in international petroleum product prices.
Warning for South Africans driving diesel cars
Shady service stations around South Africa are continuing to sell dirty diesel in an effort to boost profits.
The scandal first broke the news at the start of this year when it was discovered that at least 70 stations in the country were selling diesel diluted with paraffin.
The Executive Director of the Fuels Industry Association of South Africa (FIASA), recently stated that this remains a prevalent issue and the authorities are still investigating how to stop it.
Car tax disaster in South Africa
South Africa’s Ad Valorem Luxury Tax (AVLT) on new vehicles has not been changed in decades, making cars more expensive than they need to be.
AVLT is one of the four main taxes levied on new cars imported to the country and raises the prices of vehicles by tens of thousands of rands.
It has not been revised in nearly 30 years when cars cost a fraction of what they do today.
Suzuki Ertiga’s 1-star crash test results – Suzuki South Africa responds
The Suzuki Ertiga was recently given a 1-star rating for crash safety by the Global New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).
However, Suzuki responded to the rating, claiming that the NCAP report contains factual inconsistencies that invalidate the results.
It argued that the Ertiga used in the test was a 2019 year model, which does not reflect the standards of the new ones currently on sale.
Discontinued Toyota and Nissan cars on top of hijackers’ shopping lists in South Africa
The Toyota Etios, Nissan Almera, and Nissan NP200 are three of the most stolen cars in South Africa despite the fact they are discontinued.
In most cases, delisted cars are no longer prioritized by criminals as there is less demand for these models.
However, the popularity of these three badges has created a lucrative black market for parts to supply country’s ageing fleet.
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