Permanent petrol price cut, the next-gen Toyota Hilux, and new BEE laws proposed for petrol stations

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

Permanent petrol price cut proposed for South Africa

The civil action group AfriForum has written to Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana, requesting that the government’s temporary fuel price relief measure be made into a permanent tax cut.

Back in April, the government reduced the General Fuel Levy by R3 per litre to partially offset the massive fuel price hikes brought about by the war in Iran.

The National Treasury will end this support in July; however, AfriForum is calling for the price cut to be extended indefinitely.

New BEE laws proposed for petrol stations on South Africa’s national roads

The business group Sakeliga has warned that the South African National Roads Agency’s (SANRAL’s) new draft proposals will impose new broad black economic empowerment (BEE) requirements for petrol stations and other roadside businesses.

These concerns relate to SANRAL’s Draft Policy for Rest and Service Facilities along National Roads, which Sakeliga says could unlawfully expand the agency’s powers over private businesses.

It highlighted that the draft policy would require roadside businesses to comply with SANRAL’s own Transformation Policy, even if they are not contracted with SANRAL and are not spending public money.

Best news about petrol since February

The flow of oil through the Strait of Hormuz is running at the fastest pace since the Iran war began, despite a report that the Islamic Republic continues to harass passing vessels.

Last weekend, tankers hauling about 20 million barrels of crude were observed passing through the waterway, tanker-tracking data compiled by Bloomberg show.

That’s the highest transparent flow since before the war began at the end of February.

Warning about South Africa’s new traffic fine laws launching next week

Fines SA has warned motorists that they will need to be more proactive about managing their traffic fines ahead of the national rollout of the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (AARTO) system.

AARTO is set to begin its phased rollout on 1 July 2026 next week, starting with 62 of the country’s largest municipalities.

Fines SA said that one of the biggest misunderstandings surrounding AARTO is that the new laws would immediately replace the current traffic fine system nationwide.

“In reality, motorists should understand that traffic fines may continue to be administered under different legal frameworks depending on jurisdiction and implementation status during the rollout period,” it said.

New Toyota Hilux officially goes on sale in South Africa – Pricing and features

The next-generation Toyota Hilux has finally gone on sale in South Africa.

The long-awaited follow-up to the country’s best-selling vehicle, the ninth-generation Hilux is now available in seven configurations with prices starting at R658,500.

This includes double-cab and Xtra-cab (extended-cab) body types, though the single-cab units are not available at launch.