South Africa Working Together to Improve the Fleet
The Johannesburg Automechanika event on 19 November 2024 provided an excellent opportunity for test station operators to engage with authorities on a wide range of topics, ensuring the effectiveness of roadworthiness inspections and test station operations. The Vehicle Testing Association (VTA) Imbizo (a Zulu word meaning “gathering of people”) took place alongside the events and exhibitions of Automechanika.
CITA contributed to the event through Chantal Abou Jaoude from Maha, who presented on Best Practice Recommendations from Africa and the Middle East, showcasing current developments in Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Eduard Fernandez, Executive Director of CITA, introduced the organization, highlighting its extensive constituency, significant body of work, and active task teams.
In South Africa, the regulatory framework governing test station operations and roadworthiness processes operates on three levels. The National Department of Transport is responsible for policy and regulatory matters, while the individual Provincial Mobility/Transport Departments oversee the registration and supervision of operators within their provinces. Additionally, the Minister of Transport has appointed an Inspectorate of Testing Stations, which resides within the Certification division of the South African Bureau of Standards.
All roadworthy inspection results are recorded in the NATIS (National Traffic Information System)—a centralized, government-owned database of vehicles, vehicle owners, and drivers. The system is managed by the lead agency for road safety in the country, the RTMC (Road Traffic Management Corporation).
South Africa has over 500 test stations, the majority of which are privately operated. These private stations have organized themselves into various industry bodies, with the largest being the VTA (Vehicle Testing Association), part of the RMI (Retail Motor Industry). The RMI represents 8,700 motor-related businesses serving the aftermarket sector, including vehicle testing stations. Ferose Oaten, a board member of CITA and Chairperson for CITA RAG Africa, also serves as the National Chairperson of the VTA in South Africa.
At the Automechanika VTA Imbizo, all the aforementioned authorities presented on various topics. These included the digitization of inspection reports, the integration of multiple databases with the NATIS system, trends of non-compliance within the industry, local provincial issues, proposed policy changes to include alternately powered vehicles, and other relevant topics.
Regarding legislative requirements for roadworthiness tests, private vehicles are only required to be inspected upon a change of ownership. Heavy goods vehicles and taxis must undergo annual inspections, while buses are required to have roadworthiness inspections every six months. South Africa currently has 13.9 million vehicles, of which only 21% of the fleet are required to undergo roadworthy inspections under the current regulations. In 2014, the Minister of Transport published legislation to implement periodic technical inspections for vehicles older than 10 years every two years. However, this provision, although published, will only be implemented “at a date determined by the Minister.”