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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Hijackings and smash-and-grabs – the AA gives a list of do’s and don’ts
Hijackings, and smash-and-grab incidents, can occur anytime, and anywhere. Recent reports suggest an increase in both these classes of attacks. The Automobile Association (AA) has warned motorists to be vigilant while driving, and to ensure they take responsibility for their own, and their passengers’ safety. The most important thing to do is be informed of where the hijacking, and...
Tyres are critical safety features – check them properly and regularly
Tyres remain a dangerously overlooked component of car care in South Africa, sometimes with fatal consequences. This is the view of the Automobile Association (AA) which was commenting after reports suggested a tyre burst lead to the deadly N1 crash in Midrand, in Gauteng Monday. At least one person died, and up to 11 others were injured - some of them critically - when the taxi they were...
Euro NCAP anniversary unique opportunity to introduce local safety ratings scale in SA
As Europe marks the 20th anniversary of Euro NCAP, the Automobile Association believes it is a unique opportunity to again highlight the need for improved safety testing on cars locally. The Association called for the introduction of safety testing measures that provide a scale of safety ratings for all vehicles sold locally. The Association said these safety ratings should be clearly displayed...
Hints for new drivers
Learning to drive used to be a rite of passage for young people. But the gradual improvement of public transport in South Africa, along with the rise of ride-sharing services, means that a driving licence is less of a necessity than it used to be for previous generations. It's still useful to have a driving licence though. If you have access to a car, a licence is an easy way to get around...
Fuel hike clipped as Rand rallies
Fuel prices will increase in February, but not by as much as expected, after the Rand staged a comeback against the US dollar in late-January International oil prices remain near their recent highs, but the Rand has strengthened around ten cents against the US dollar since January 15 This has caused a marked improvement in the fuel price picture since mid-month. Petrol is expected to cost 30...
Is road safety enough of a priority in SA?
Statistics on the Easter road fatalities, released by Transport Minister Joe Maswanganyi in Pretoria this morning, are cause for great concern, and may, (when the final numbers are in), be the highest Easter death toll to date. These numbers as a sad indictment on road traffic safety and enforcement initiatives, and calls on both the government, and driving public, to take serious stock of what...
Suspension of 70 testing officials in Johannesburg should only be the start
The Automobile Association (AA) welcomes the suspension of 70 officials at six vehicle testing centres in Gauteng for corruption. This is an important development in making roads safer in South Africa. Many problems associated with road safety begin and end at the licencing centres. Various administrations in the transport department have expressed concern about rampant corruption at these...
The petrol price – all you need to know
Taxes make up big part of the price you pay at the pump As of tonight (SUBS: 5 April) South African motorists will receive a 24 cents a litre decrease in the price of petrol. But this decrease could have been much more significant had fuel taxes not increased at the same time. In his budget speech in February, former Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan announced that the General Fuel Levy would...
Brace for another fuel hike
Fuel prices are set for another hike at the end of January. This is according to the Automobile Association (AA), which was commenting on unaudited mid-month fuel price data released by the Central Energy Fund (CEF). The Rand / US dollar exchange rate has firmed slightly since the start of January 2017, But international oil prices have surged ahead by a far greater margin. We predict that...
New Transport appointment: more questions than answers
Last night’s Cabinet reshuffle has left more questions than answers for motorists, who, among other things, are today, left wondering why the former Minister of Transport, Dipou Peters, was replaced, the Automobile Association (AA) said. President Jacob Zuma made a number of significant changes to his Cabinet late last night including replacing Ms Peters with Mr Joe Maswanganyi, who currently...
Time for talking is gone
The increase in road deaths over the 2016/17 festive period is cause for great concern and points to the lack of a proper road safety strategy to deal with the carnage. This is the view of the Automobile Association (AA) which was commenting on the road fatality statistics release by Transport Minister Dipuo Peters in Midrand today. According to the Minister 1714 people died on South African...
Fuel down, but Rand risk looms
Fuel prices for April will be lower than in March, even accounting for the 39 cents a litre rise in fuel taxes which take effect at month-end. (Unaudited month-end fuel price data released by the Central Energy Fund.) International petroleum prices continued to ease during March on the back of increased global oil stocks which have mostly blunted OPEC's recent production restrictions. Over the...
