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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Don’t get caught out on 1 June: prepare now for next week
Association urges motorists to stay safe on the road. The moving of the country to Level 3 on 1 June as part of the government’s Risk Adjusted Strategy means many South Africans will be on the road for the first time in more than two months. The Automobile Association (AA) says for this reason it is now a good time to check if everything on the vehicle is in good condition, and able to perform...
Fuel prices – up to 50% of every litre goes to taxes
South Africa’s fuel price is comprised of many different elements, some of which make fuel in the country more expensive than that in neighbouring countries to which South Africa exports. The AA publishes an annual breakdown of the fuel price to give South African consumers and motorists a snapshot of the cost composition of every litre of petrol inland and at the coast. The figures...
Fuel in oil, Rand tussle
May oil prices rebounded off their late-April crash while the Rand steadied around its new level, leaving a mixed picture for South African fuel users. This is according to the Automobile Association (AA), which was commenting on unaudited mid-month fuel price data released by the Central Energy Fund. The mid-month data predicts an increase of up to 50 cents a litre for petrol, while diesel is...
Workshops now available for repair, but check ahead first
Do you have issues with your vehicle that need sorting, which you haven’t been able to get seen to because of the lockdown? Well, there’s good news for you. Government has published new regulations which allow for the trade in new and used vehicles (under specific conditions). In addition, the new regulations also allow for emergency repair work to be performed on vehicles, also under specific...
Open letter to Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Ebrahim Patel
Re: Opening of repair workshops for emergency vehicle repairs and emergency tyre fitment for private citizens during Level 4 lockdown Dear Minister Patel, I am writing this to you on behalf of Automobile Association (AA) members, as well as all other motorists in the country affected by the nationwide lockdown. The AA supports government’s efforts to reduce the spread of coronavirus, and the...
Savings for consumers will hurt government coffers
May 2020 will soon join April in setting back-to-back records for monthly fuel price drops. This is according to the Automobile Association, which was commenting on unaudited month-end data released by the Central Energy Fund. Against the backdrop of the international oil picture, even the disastrous performance of the Rand versus the US dollar over April barely moved the needle on local fuel...
Stay strong, and be safe
Dear Member, Our President spoke to the nation again last night and gave broad strokes of the way forward for our country post April. Our Ministers, I’m sure, will elaborate in the coming days and give more clarity on the specifics, particularly as they pertain to schools, businesses, and daily life. I write to you today not only as the CEO of the AA, but also as a family man. Being...
South Africans feel unsafe even in their homes
More than 76 percent of South Africans say they have been victims of crimes ranging from kidnapping, murder and sexual assault to robbery and housebreaking. This is one of the findings in the State of Security Report, commissioned by the Automobile Association (AA), which is being released today. In addition to reviewing official government statistics, the authors...
Lessons learnt now must be applied
The massive drop in traffic volumes across the country has obviously lead to the huge drop in Easter road fatalities, and the lessons learnt from this period should inform road policy going forward. This is the view of the Automobile Association (AA) which was commenting on the festive season fatalities announced by Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula earlier today. According to Minister Mbalula,...
The AA is here for you, while you’re staying safe indoors
Dear Member, At the end of the Easter long-weekend – which I am sure most of you spent with family – we have cause to pause and reflect on the events of last Thursday. At that time our president announced the extension of the lockdown, which will now end on 30 April. I was initially shocked at the decision, but that was soon overtaken by optimism. Yes, you read that correctly. As much as I am...
Oil, Rand in corona fuel crash
Globally destructive economic instability has pushed fuel prices into drastic retreat, leading to some very rare good news for South African motorists. This is according to the Automobile Association (AA), which was commenting on unaudited mid-month fuel price data released by the Central Energy Fund. "Coming in the wake of March's record fuel price reductions, South Africa is probably set...
The AA is here for you, and will always be
Dear AA Member, In my previous communication to you I spoke about how the Automobile Association adapted its operations to the coronavirus crisis, and how our internal processes have changed to continue meeting our members’ needs during the lockdown period. I am happy to report that, so far, our systems are holding up well, and we are still out there servicing incoming calls. The response to my...
