The South African Tyre Manufacturers Conference (SATMC) has appointed Bridgestone Southern Africa MD Jacques Rikhotso as its new chairperson.

This move is aligned with a renewed focus on defending local manufacturing against an influx of imported tyres, especially from China, says the industry body.

“Our top priorities are advancing regulatory alignment, promoting the use of locally manufactured tyres and ensuring fair competition in the domestic market,” summarises Rikhotso.

“We are focused on three key levers – ensuring regulatory parity for all players, enhancing local manufacturing competitiveness and driving consumer awareness around quality, safety and sustainability.”

A key issue on the SATMC’s agenda is enforcing compliance across all tyre imports.

Rikhotso emphasises that regardless of origin, tyres must comply with National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS) regulations.

The NRCS is a government entity under the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, responsible for ensuring that products meet compulsory safety, health and environmental standards before they are sold or used in the country.

“We are working closely with authorities to ensure robust testing, tighter border control and compliance enforcement,” says Rikhotso.

SATMC says it actively advocates for and supports the implementation of anti-dumping duties on imported tyres to protect the local tyre industry from unfair competition.

The tyre-manufacturer body believes these duties address situations where foreign producers export products at prices lower than domestic prices, “with the aim to destroy local industry and at a later stage increase their prices”.

In a recent case, SATMC successfully lobbied for the imposition of anti-dumping duties on Chinese-sourced passenger, truck and bus tyres, ranging from 7.18% to 43.6%.

Looking ahead, Rikhotso plans to build on the SATMC’s Homegrown #DrivingLocal initiative, which champions tyres made in South Africa by highlighting their high quality, compliance with national safety standards and contribution to local job creation and economic growth.

“It is also important to note that South African tyres are fully compatible with all vehicles, including Chinese brands,” he notes.

“Our job now is to ensure that local options remain accessible, competitive and top of mind. I am confident that the SATMC will achieve this,” he adds.

SATMC managing executive Nduduzo Chala has welcomed Rikhotso’s appointment.

“Jacques brings a firm commitment to industrial resilience and his focus on protecting local manufacturing aligns strongly with our long-term vision.”