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www.automobil.co.za
November 2022
iNdustry News
he 2022 South African motorcycle market is
well on track to surpassing the 30 00 new units
sales mark.
“This will be a healthy increase of 14.7% com-
pared 2021, which in turn was up 26% on 2020. How-
ever, not every segment is doing well,” says Arnold
Olivier, National Director, AMID (The Association of
Motorcycle Importers and Distributors).
“Segment performance varies from between
-30% to +49% with the higher priced leisure seg-
ments being negatively affected. For the first time in
four years the leisure 250 to 500cc segment is show-
ing growth, which is promising. During the year nu-
merous brands experienced stock shortages and not
all were microchip related. ATV and side by side sales
remained stagnant year on year on year,” says Olivier.
“The commercial motorcycle segment continues
to grow in a healthy manner. Anecdotal evidence sug-
gests that if more commercial riders were available,
growth could be even higher. As approximately 95%
of commercial riders are estimated to have foreign
passports, this most certainly presents a low-cost op-
portunity to employment of South African citizens,”
adds Olivier.
Manufacturers remain positive that the growth
pattern will continue in 2023 and beyond.
Commercial motorcycles lead
sales surge
roger houghton
here are many people who think of them-
selves as being legends in their own life-
time, but that accolade is deserved by only
a few. One of these people was Deryck Spence
(79), who passed away suddenly at his home in
Southbroom on September 29.
Deryck was the driving force when the pres-
ence of Castrol lubricants was seen and heard all
over South Africa, with memorable advertising in
all its forms and a host of sponsorships, particu-
larly in the realm of motor sport. Castrol spon-
sorship was evident in all aspects of local motor
sport, while Deryck was also very involved with
ensuring the on going success of the Castrol Ral-
ly, which obtained international status and was a
byword in the world of rallying for 25 years.
Deryck also built special relationships with
his customers and his hosting on events was
legendary. He had a special knack for engen-
dering wonderful brand and company loyalty in
his employees as well as generating an amazing
team spirit that was rewarded with great sales
success for many years.
Deryck joined the Burmah-Castrol group of
companies in 1964 as a Sales Representative and
rose in the ranks to become the Managing Direc-
tor of Castrol South Africa in 1986, also becoming
a legend in the local motor industry as he estab-
lished a dominant footprint for his company in
South Africa. He transferred to the United King-
dom in 1992 as European Director for a group
company, Foseco Plc.
“Luckily for South Africa, this brilliant, tal-
ented, businessperson returned to this country.
He formed a management consultancy business
and in 2000 entered the paint sector when he
acquired a share in Promac Paints. In 2009 he be-
came the Executive Director of the South African
Paint Manufacturing Association (SAPMA) and
led that organisation for 11 years. He continued
to serve SAPMA as a non-executive director after
his retirement.
Passing of a legend
inance Minister Enoch Godongwana’s effective scrapping of e-tolls as
a funding mechanism for the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project
(GFIP) is a victory for Gauteng motorists and brings an end to years of
protest and objection against the system. However, moving forward, focus
must now shift to how the Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG) will fund
road maintenance and development in the province, according to the Auto
mobile Association.
The Automobile Association (AA) says government’s commitment to
pay 70% of outstanding debt for the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project
(GFIP) is also to be welcomed. The remaining 30% of the debt will be paid
by the GPG.
“This is a positive move and means the debts of SANRAL in relation to
GFIP will be dealt with. SMS communication late yesterday afternoon after
the announcement to registered e-toll users that a final pronouncement on
e-tolls had been made is equally important. While the sms states ‘The im
pact on your SANRAL Account will be communicated soonest’ we believe
all debt will also be cancelled, again another positive development and one
which we urged government to make,” says the AA.
Moving forward, the AA says the maintenance of roads in Gauteng,
including the GFIP, will now have to come directly from the GPG. Minister
Godongwana indicated that the provincial government could use a variety
of mechanisms to raise this money, including e-tolls, toll plazas (which would
be impractical), or through their provincial budget.
The Association says these are all positive developments, but the con
cern now is how the maintenance of roads in the province, and development
of the additional phases of the GFIP, will be funded.
“Currently the provincial roads budget is around R9bn annually. Howev
er, in each of the last two years, R2bn has, for instance, been allocated to the
Gautrain to compensate that private system for low ridership levels through
the Patronage Guarantee. Looking ahead, when considering more extensive
funding of roads in the province through the GPG’s Roads Budget, will this
allocation to Gautrain – which serves a small, elite group of commuters in
the province – continue, or will it be reallocated to serve the interests of
motorists in Gauteng which comprise a far bigger portion of the commuting
public?” asks the AA.
The motoring public of Gauteng showed their dissatisfaction with the
right decision to scrap it. Moving forward, the AA will continue to push for
a solution to road funding that serves the needs of all the citizens of the
province without placing additional financial pressure on them for funding
as they already pay for this through existing taxation,” the AA concludes.
yres can mean the difference between life
and death, or safety versus life-changing
injury. This Transport Month, Sumitomo
Rubber South Africa, in partnership with the
Road Accident Fund (RAF) and the South African
Tyre Manufacturers Conference (SATMC), is tak
As part of an ongoing partnership between
the RAF and the SATMC, a tyre safety workshop
was held for around 70 traffic officers from the
Ladysmith District. The aim was to equip the
officers to better enforce laws and regulations
correctly, by knowing how to spot risky or illegal
At the Sumitomo Training Academy in Lady
smith, SRSA Group Training Manager: Truck & Bus,
Keith Phelps, took the law enforcement officers
wear patterns, sidewall damage, retreaded tyres,
and other factors that could affect the roadwor
thiness and legality of a tyre. The initiative also
included an educational roadblock set up just
outside the Road Traffic Inspectorate centre
on the N11, Ladysmith, to educate commuters
about tyre safety and ensure that they get prop
er technical information on their tyres. A number
of trucks with defective tyres were also stopped.
In providing compensation to the victims of
road accidents in South Africa, the RAF knows
all too well that poor tyre safety is a critical fac
operating vehicles with worn or poorly inflated
tyres, and traffic departments need to be able to
identify and weed out unroadworthy tyres and
Prioritise tyre care and safety. Buy reputable
tyres. Choose new tyres over second-hand. Inflate
tyres correctly. Ensure your tyre tread is above
1.6mm. Carry out wheel alignment, balancing and
tyre rotation at recommended intervals.