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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Rand drives fuel down
Fuel prices are set for a hefty drop after the Rand's strong performance against the US dollar, despite increases in international petroleum prices during December. The Rand has had a very strong run against the dollar since the middle of the month, gaining considerable ground after the ANC's electoral conference chose Cyril Ramaphosa as the new leader of the party. After opening the month at...
Don’t leave children or pets in vehicles
As temperatures in specifically the northern provinces soar again today, we warn all motorists to not leave children or pets in vehicles, even for short periods of time. Temperatures in cars can climb very rapidly, and even if a window is cracked slightly open, the inside temperature will exceed outside temperatures by several degrees. Children and pets who are left in cars are vulnerable and...
Fuel trending downwards for January
Fuel prices are set for month-end decreases. This is according to the Automobile Association (AA) which was commenting on mid-month fuel price data released by the Central Energy Fund. The Rand/US dollar exchange rate has had one of its flattest periods of trading in recent times. It has traded in a very narrow band between R12.30 and R12.40 to the US currency since the last week of December,...
Throw the book at rock throwers
Yet another incident of rock throwing off a bridge onto oncoming traffic in KwaZulu-Natal. According to reports, the latest incident occurred earlier this week in Glen Anil. These attacks, because this is how they must be viewed, are barbaric and cowardly. Throwing rocks off bridges onto vehicles below is extremely dangerous and can, as we have seen, cause death and severe injuries to the driver...
Reduction in road fatalities encouraging
The reduction in road fatalities over the 2017/2018 festive period is encouraging and points to the success of certain road safety interventions across the country. We, however, concerned with the increase in the number of youth who died, and the continued high number of pedestrians who were killed. The official festive season road fatality statistics were released by Transport Minister Joe...
Careful consideration needed when dealing with increases to fuel levies
On 21 February Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba will deliver his Budget Speech in Parliament. Part of that speech is expected to include an announcement on increases to the General Fuel and Road Accident Fund levies, both of which are included in the price of petrol and diesel. With a budget shortfall of around R50bn in 2017, this may seem an ideal mechanism for the minister to source additional...
Rampant Rand keeps oil at bay
International fuel prices shot up by as much as 36 cents a litre in January, but were outshone by one of the strongest Rand performances in many months. As a result, South Africans can look forward to cheaper fuel prices in February. This is according to the an unaudited month-end fuel price data released by the Central Energy Fund. International prices have risen by around 11 percent...
Survey results indicate high levels of responsible car ownership in SA
More than 90 percent of car owners in South African service their vehicles, with 88 percent saying they do so at the service intervals recommended by manufacturers. This information is part of the recent Vehicle Service Survey. We often speak of the necessity to service vehicles regularly, and to keep them in good running condition. This not only maintains the performance of the vehicle, but...
Being insured (even a little) is better than not being insured at all
"It’s a luxury I can’t afford”, “It will never happen to me”, and, “I don’t believe in insurance” are just some of the reasons people give for not insuring their property or vehicles. For the uninsured these reasons may seem valid but, in the long run, may prove more costly. Between 65 and 70 percent of the estimated 12 million vehicles on South African roads are uninsured, and this...
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...
