Features / 23 January 2026 / Michael Taylor

Good news for motorists caught speeding, an airline halts flights to a South African airport, and a new Suzuki SUV

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

Good news for motorists caught speeding in South Africa

The Western Cape High Court has ruled that it is unlawful and unconstitutional for police to arrest and detain motorists for speeding without a warrant.

This legal precedent was set following an incident where an individual was detained for speeding, even though he wasn’t the one behind the wheel at the time the infraction was recorded.

The court ruled that speeding is not a Schedule 1 offence and that the individual should not have been arrested without a warrant in the absence of reasonable grounds to suspect he had committed a serious offence.

Airline halts all flights to South African airport

FlySafair has suspended all flights to Hoedspruit Airport due to the severe floods that recently hit parts of Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and northern KwaZulu-Natal.

Airlink and Cemair also cancelled flights but are restarting their operations. FlySafair, however, has halted all flights until 14 February 2026.

Flights to and from the Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport have also been disrupted by the flooding.

New Suzuki SUV coming to South Africa

The first shipment of the new Suzuki Across SUV is on its way to South Africa.

The Across is the carmaker’s flagship SUV, and is expected to slot above the Grand Vitara when it goes on sale here.

It features a 1.5-litre petrol engine, and the higher trim levels have access to the brand’s AllGrip four-wheel-drive system.

Mercedes-Benz slashes prices by R140,000 in South Africa

Mercedes-Benz has significantly reduced the price of the diesel GLC in South Africa.

The GLC is one of the luxury brand’s most popular models, and prices have been slashed by between R53,000 and R140,000, depending on the trim level.

The price cuts are reportedly a move to remain competitive in a market increasingly dominated by Chinese imports, which offer similar features to German cars at a considerably lower cost.