Press Releases
The Automobile Association (AA) advocates for consumer rights. It also provides useful information to consumers on all aspects of mobility and road use. Read our articles below for more information.
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Towing Industry Transformation on the Horizon
The Automobile Association has been operating in South Africa for almost ninety years - always priding ourselves on our customer service and loyalty to the values of honesty and integrity. Today, at a media briefing in Midrand, we announced our position regarding the status of the towing industry in the country, and what needs to be done to fix it. The towing industry has, over the past number...
Oil down but Rand pummels fuel price
Fuel prices look set for another jump going into July based on the unaudited mid-month fuel data released by the Central Energy Fund (CEF). Since the start of June, the Rand has steadily weakened against the US dollar, with the average cost per dollar having climbed from around the R12.50 mark to nearly R13.00. Fortunately, international oil prices retreated over the same period, and have had a...
Oil price a lifeline to motorists as Rand slides
South Africans have been thrown a lifeline by declining oil prices in June, according to the unaudited month-end fuel price data released by the Central Energy Fund (CEF). Without oil's decline, the fuel price hike for July would have been far higher. The average Rand/US dollar exchange rate used to calculate the basic fuel price has slipped in a virtually straight line since the start of June....
Petrol price breakdown
To understand how the fuel price is comprised, we are publishing a fuel price breakdown for the third year. This breakdown gives a snapshot of how the cost of every litre of petrol inland, and at the coast, is determined. These figures are based on 93 unleaded octane fuel (inland) and 95 octane fuel (coastal). The purpose of the breakdown, and accompanying infographics, is aimed at educating the...
Oil price spike feeds fuel hikes
Sharp increases in the landed prices of fuels are set to hit motorists hard at the end of April. This is according to the unaudited mid-month data released by the Central Energy Fund. Petroleum prices were largely flat in the first week of April, but spiked sharply as tensions escalated in Syria. The Middle East lies near many of the world's key oil producers, and petroleum prices have...
510 deaths over Easter, urgent action needed
Transport Minister Blade Nzimande released the Easter road death toll today announcing a shocking 14% increase in road fatalities over the Easter period from 29 March to 9 April 2018, over the same period in 2017. This period coincides with national school holidays. The release of these numbers must serve as an urgent indication to government to bring all role-players in road safety into the...
134 000+ road deaths over ten years,unacceptable!
The annual road fatality statistics for 2017, made available by the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) on their website on Friday (SUBS: 20 April), is another indication of the need for urgent road safety intervention on South Africa’s roads. The statistics show the situation on the country’s roads is worsening, despite numerous safety campaigns by government and non-governmental...
What to do if you are caught up in civil unrest
Finding yourself at the centre of a civil unrest situation in your car is not something many people think of. However, recent events in some parts of South Africa mean it is wise to be prepared if this does happen to you. The first, and most important action, is to avoid these areas as far as possible. If you are aware of unrest near to you, monitor media and social media, listen to radio...
SA consumers hit hard. Again.
Toll fees across South Africa have risen by between six and seven percent, signalling yet another financial blow to already cash-strapped South Africans. And, the increases come at a time when fuel is touching on record high levels, in part because of the hefty increases to indirect taxes added to fuel prices at the beginning of the month. The announcement was made by the South African National...
Motorists to reel under massive fuel hike
Fuel prices in May will increase by around 49 cents a litre as of 2 May, and not 92 cents as earlier predicted by the Automobile Association (AA). The error occurred due to an earlier closing off of the reporting period for fuel increases by the Department of Energy. The Automobile Association (AA) commented earlier on unaudited month-end fuel price data released by the Central Energy Fund...
Global NCAP launches ‘Safer Choice Africa’ Award
Following the announcement of the Safer Choice India Award at the Delhi motor show, Global NCAP is now launching the ‘Safer Choice Africa’ Award to encourage automakers to achieve the highest levels of safety performance. In November 2017 the first ever independent crash test results for cars sold in Africa were released by Global NCAP at a conference in Cape Town, hosted together with the...
Don’t take the insurance bait – cheaper is not always better
There are just over 11 million registered vehicles in South Africa (excluding caravans and trailers). According to statistics, the majority of these vehicles – around 60-70% are uninsured. This means that to keep you on the road, insurance is not a luxury, but a necessity. Statistics from the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) indicate there are more than 800 000 crashes in South Africa...