South Africa’s 10-year driving licences officially gazetted, and Chery reveals pricing for its newest car brand

A proposed change to South Africa’s slate levy procedure will allow fuel imports to keep some of the tax paid when global petroleum product prices fluctuate.

The Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, which gazetted the change, said this won’t affect the retail price of fuel or the slate levy amount; rather it aims to protect fuel importers and wholesalers.

South Africa’s fuel price is adjusted monthly, while global oil prices fluctuate daily, creating a gap between what suppliers pay to import fuel and what they can charge at the pump.

Oil prices rose for a fourth day in a row with no sign of progress towards a peace deal between the United States and Iran

Brent Crude oil is currently sitting at $92 per barrel, compared to $79 per barrel at the start of August. US President Donald Trump said there are no ongoing talks with Tehran.

This leaves the Strait of Hormuz contested, with little visible traffic moving through the waterway. The US plans to ramp up the economic pressure on Iran, maintaining a blockade on its ports to force the country to capitulate.

The rand is trading at R16.25 against the US dollar today. Economists expect annual inflation to ease from 5.0% to 4.5%.

5 important things

10-year driver’s licences get the green light in South Africa: The Department of Transport has officially gazetted the proposed extension for South Africa’s driver’s licence cards, increasing the validity period from five to 10 years. The extension applies to code A, A1, B, and EB licences . [TopAuto].

South Africa’s car market is at a turning point: the proliferation of new vehicle brands presents both a competitive challenge and an opportunity for established manufacturers. While these brands pose a threat to previously captive market positions, legacy nameplates have a chance to demonstrate why their cars have earned the loyalty of customers, as motorists are willing to pay more for a name they trust. [SABC News].

South Africa’s e-hailing industry is booming: The local e-hailing industry now accounts for an estimated 70,000 vehicles and a monthly turnover of R500 million. This figure doesn’t even include the revenue earned by drivers, parts suppliers, or insurers, illustrating the scale of the economic activity created by services like Bolt, Uber, and inDrive. [Moneyweb].

London car emission crackdown leads to better child health: London has seen a measurable improvement in children’s lung health since it introduced traffic restrictions to cut air pollution. Prior to the change, children living in the city had smaller lungs and had higher rates of asthma and respiratory infections. [Bloomberg].

International pricing for Chery’s new Freelander brand revealed: Chery’s newest car brand, Freelander, opened pre-orders for its first SUV, the Freelander 8, and received over 10,000 orders in less than two days. Prices for the luxury SUV will start at roughly $50,000 (R812,570) [CarNewsChina].