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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Increase in road fatalities shocking and worrying
The 14 percent increase in the number of road fatalities during the 2021/2022 festive season compared to the 2020/2021 festive season is shocking and worrying and points to the need for urgent intervention and not promises of change. The Automobile Association (AA) says the horrific figures, released by Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula today (SUBS:: 18 Jan 2022) will not be dealt with effectively unless real, effective amendments are made to current road safety practices.
Court dismisses AARTO
The Automobile Association (AA) welcomes the judgment handed down by the Pretoria High Court declaring that the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences Act (AARTO), and its Amendments, are unconstitutional.
The court found that “the AARTO and Amendment Acts unlawfully intrude upon the exclusive executive and legislative competence of the local and provincial governments respectively and as such, the two Acts are unconstitutional.”
Fuel pulls back on drifting oil stronger Rand
2022 kicks off with some good news for fuel users, with across-the-board reductions in prices. This is according to the Automobile Association (AA), which was commenting on price movements announced by the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) late yesterday evening.
State Owned Enterprises must be held to account
The high remuneration of executives at State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) remains a concern and should be the focus of a Parliamentary inquiry in 2022. The Automobile Association (AA) says in specifically three entities it has reviewed, remuneration of executives does not correlate with set targets, nor is it in line with private sector remuneration.
Latest #SaferCarsForAfrica crash test results: Mazda 2 reaches four stars and Nissan Almera three stars for adult occupant protection
Global NCAP and the Automobile Association of South Africa launch a new round of #SaferCarsForAfrica crash test results today with the welcome support of the FIA Foundation and Bloomberg Philanthropies.
Fuel price blunder by DMRE underscores need for fuel price review
Today, after the December fuel price adjustment had already come into force at retailers across South Africa, and two full days after the official announcement of the fuel price by Minister Gwede Mantashe, the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) announced it had made a mistake with its fuel price calculations.
Fuel pain in December as petrol breaches R20/l
Fuel prices will be through the roof in December, with the price of oil playing almost no part. This is according to the Automobile Association (AA), which was commenting on price increases announced by the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) yesterday (SUBS::29 Nov), and which come into effect at midnight tonight (SUBS::30 Nov). The Association says the increases again point to the need for an urgent investigation and recalculation of the current fuel pricing model and its existing elements.
Have the right attitude on the road this festive season
Schools across South Africa close for the festive season break on 15 December and traffic on the country’s major routes is expected to increase significantly from then on. The Automobile Association (AA) says motorists must prepare both their attitudes and vehicles properly for their journeys.
Fuel price disaster as petrol tests R20/l
November fuel price hikes announced by the Minister of Energy last night (Sunday, 1 November) will be disastrous for fuel users and consumers across the board. This is according to the Automobile Association (AA), which says a perfect storm of demand imbalances, refinery costs, natural gas price hikes and Rand weakness would see the petrol price close in on R20 a litre in the runup to Christmas.
Parliament must intervene at RTMC
The Automobile Association (AA) says an urgent inquiry by Parliament into the operational and financial affairs of the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) is necessary and overdue. The Association says the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Transport should also summon the Chairperson of the RTMC, Mr Zola Majavu to explain why he made false statements about the funding of the Corporation in the RTMC’s 2020 annual report.
Month-end fuel price hike could be ‘catastrophic’
Current data is predicting fuel price hikes of catastrophic proportions at the end of October for November. This is according to the Automobile Association (AA) which was commenting on recent exchange rate and commodities data.
E-toll funding must be secured elsewhere
Remarks by Transport Minister, Fikile Mbalula, that e-tolls will not be scrapped, and that an e-toll funding solution will be found, are disappointing and out of step with the sentiments of the majority of Gauteng motorists. The Automobile Association (AA) reiterates its long-held view that the e-toll system in its present form will continue to fail as most motorists have a taken a principled stand against making e-toll payments.
