What SA can learn from Canada’s road safety success
While the US battles soaring road deaths, Canada achieved an 18% decline through comprehensive safety policies. Could South Africa replicate this success?
- Industry News
- 5 August 2025
At a virtual transport portfolio committee meeting held in the last week of August, KZN’s MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison Bheki Ntuli gave reprieve for dealerships who have been struggling to get new trade plates and roadworthy certificates before the expiry deadline on 31 August.
All motor vehicle licence discs, temporary permits and roadworthy certificates that had expired during the period from March 26 to May 31, 2020 expired on 31 August, but following a petition by the Automobile Association and public, dealerships now have until 31 November to renew their paperwork.
“We know that ordinary citizens have been severely affected and anyone experiencing challenges with regards to their expired licences must present their case to the department so that each case can be investigated on its merit,” said Ntuli at the meeting.
The extension period applies to:
• Motor trade number licences that expired between March 26 and May 31, which will be valid until November 30.
• All learner’s licences, driving licence cards, temporary driving licences and professional driving permits that expired between March 26 and August 31, which will be valid until January 31, 2021.
While the US battles soaring road deaths, Canada achieved an 18% decline through comprehensive safety policies. Could South Africa replicate this success?
South Africa's premium automotive sector has experienced unprecedented consolidation over the last two years, with multiple luxury brands restructuring their dealership networks in response to declining sales, economic pressures, and shifting consumer preferences.
Almost every dealership has them – listings that sit quietly in the background, gathering cobwebs. Despite looking good on paper, some used vehicles attract minimal buyer attention and quietly chip away potential revenue. But what if those slow movers weren’t dead ends, but missed opportunities waiting for the right tweak?
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If you are not taking care of your customer, your competitor will.
Bob Hooey
While the US battles soaring road deaths, Canada achieved an 18% decline through comprehensive safety policies. Could South Africa replicate this success?
President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed strong confidence in South Africa's automotive industry, stating it is making crucial investments to build resilience and lead the transition to green mobility despite mounting global pressures.
South Africa is scrambling to protect its economy after USA’s President Donald Trump signed sweeping tariff measures targeting the country's key exports, potentially putting 100 000 jobs at risk, reported Reuters on 1 August.