Soaring fuel costs in South Africa, driven in large part by persistent increases in diesel, are adding fresh pressure to independent automotive workshops.
Many of these garages are small enterprises trying to stay afloat in an already difficult economy.
Dewald Ranft, Chair of the Motor Industry Workshop Association (MIWA), says the knock-on effects of higher pump prices are increasingly visible in day-to-day workshop activity nationwide. “Independent workshops tend to feel it first when households tighten their belts,” Ranft says. “When fuel prices climb, motorists focus on necessities and routine servicing is often pushed back. That can undermine vehicle roadworthiness and may contribute to the country’s high levels of crashes and fatalities.”
He adds that MIWA members are already noticing fewer bookings, especially for preventative work and repairs that are not seen as urgent. “We are simply seeing fewer vehicles in for attention. It might feel like a saving in the short term, but skipping servicing can allow small problems to become major, expensive failures later,” he says.
The slowdown is not only a short-term dip in turnover. With many independents operating on narrow margins, a prolonged fall in customer numbers could threaten the survival of some businesses. “These are largely small and medium-sized businesses that support local economies,” Ranft says. “If this pattern continues, more workshops may close their doors, with job losses to follow, something South Africa can ill afford,” he explains.
Tighter household budgets are also shaping choices about parts and insurance work. Ranft notes that more motorists are struggling to pay insurance excesses, which can mean vital repairs are postponed or abandoned altogether. “That decision does not stop at the individual driver,” he says. “It affects workshops, parts suppliers and, ultimately, safety on the road when essential work is delayed,” says Ranft.
The months ahead remain uncertain. Further fuel price rises are expected in May, along with possible changes to the fuel levy.
“Any additional increases will intensify the strain on consumers and on small operators,” Ranft warns. “It becomes a vicious cycle: less disposable income means fewer visits to the workshop, which then undermines business sustainability.”
Ranft believes some level of government support could offer meaningful relief. “Steps to reduce the cost burden at the pump would help stimulate demand across the automotive aftermarket,” he says. “There should also be consideration of targeted concessions for small businesses to help them through this period.”
Even so, Ranft stresses that the independent repair sector is resilient, while cautioning that it cannot absorb rising costs and falling demand forever.
“Independent workshops are resourceful and deeply committed to the communities they serve,” he says. “But without some relief and more stable input costs, the pressure on these businesses will keep building.”
