From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, this is the Real Economy Report.

Sashnee Moodley:

Automotive industry body the South African Tyre Manufacturers Conference (SATMC) hosted a launch event for its tyre safety programme on September 1 in Pretoria. Cameron Mackay tells us more.

Cameron Mackay:

The event involved the SATMC inviting stakeholders – including original-equipment manufacturers, automotive dealers, members of government and national traffic police as well as others – to discuss, demonstrate and emphasise the importance of tyre safety in preventing road accidents in South Africa.

SATMC MD Nduduzo Chala stressed that a lack of proper safety oversight and regulation – particularly in terms of tyre management - has contributed to high rates of vehicle crashes in South Africa.

For this reason, he discussed the need for more urgent inspection, fixing and replacing of worn tyres, particularly tyres which have a tread wear indicator that is already levelled to the tread of the tyre.

Chala stated road fatalities in South Africa in 2021 and 2022 were recorded as 12 541 and 12 436 respectively.

Further, the cost of crashes came up to R188.3-billion in 2021, and R198.8-billion last year.

SATMC MD Nduduzo Chala...

Cameron Mackay:

In terms of contributing factors to this lack of adequate tyre care, Chala listed factors such as poor waste tyre management, the trade of second-hand tyres, low disposable income for South Africans, poor infrastructure and a lack of regulatory enforcement.

SATMC MD Nduduzo Chala...

Cameron Mackay:

Chala also stressed the need for more consistent regulation of the road worthiness of tyres. This is owing to the fact different provinces in South Africa interpret and enforce regulations – such as Section 213 of the National Road Traffic Act – differently.

For this reason, the SATMC have proposed amendments to regulations that are more aligned to current market conditions.

He also emphasised the poor state of road infrastructure in many parts of the country, and that addressing this will also contribute to reducing vehicle accidents.

SATMC MD Nduduzo Chala...

Cameron Mackay:

National Association of Automotive Component and Allied Manufacturers (Naacam) executive director Renai Moothilal at the event highlighted the role of Naacam in seeking to positively impact the operating environment for component and tyre producers in the local automotive manufacturing value chain.

He noted that the SATMC has been a long-standing sister organisation to Naacam, and that both organisations work together on a range of challenges in the local automotive manufacturing value chain.

Naacam executive director Renai Moothilal...

Cameron Mackay:

Road Accident Fund (RAF) senior manager Siphamandla Gumbi highlighted that the RAF has contributed to raising awareness of the contribution to tyres to road safety as part of the SATMC’s tyre safety programme.

In addition to the RAF’s role in financially compensating people who have been involved in road accidents, Gumbi pointed out that the organisation has also been involved in a number of progammes catered towards vehicle operators such as taxi, bus and truck drivers.

These have included driver wellness and youth education programmes.

Road Accident Fund (RAF) senior manager Siphamandla Gumbi...

Cameron Mackay:

Gumbi also pointed out that the RAF are participants of the National Road Safety Strategy being driven by Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga, of which the goal is to achieve a 50% reduction in road accidents by 2030.

Road Accident Fund (RAF) senior manager Siphamandla Gumbi...

Sashnee Moodley:

That’s Creamer Media’s Real Economy Report. Join us again next week for more news and insight into South Africa’s real economy.