The Automobile Association of South Africa (AA) has called for stricter fuel quality testing and updated fuel specifications following reports that petrol sold in parts of the country allegedly reacted with vehicle paintwork, resulting in damage to motorists' vehicles.
The call comes after an amaBhungane investigation published on 17 September 2026 highlighted concerns surrounding fuel supplied through transactions involving state-owned PetroSA and fuel trader Nako Energy. The publication reported that Nako Energy had applied to the Western Cape Division of the High Court for an order to place PetroSA under provisional liquidation. PetroSA subsequently confirmed that it intends opposing the application.
While the AA has not taken a position on the legal dispute between the parties, the organisation says the matter raises broader concerns regarding fuel quality regulation, public liabilities and national fuel security.
Calls for Testing of N-Methylaniline
The AA is urging the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources to include N-methylaniline in South Africa's official petrol specification and to introduce routine testing for the additive.
According to reports referenced by the organisation, an internal PetroSA investigation found that petrol allegedly reacted with vehicle paint surfaces, resulting in affected vehicles requiring repainting by panel beaters in Mossel Bay.
The investigation also reportedly found elevated levels of N-methylaniline in the fuel. Sasol and Astron Energy are said to have identified concentrations exceeding six percent, significantly above the approximately 1.2 percent level reportedly recommended by the Fuels Industry Association.
N-methylaniline is reportedly prohibited as a fuel additive in several international jurisdictions, including Europe, China and Russia. However, the additive is currently neither banned nor routinely tested for in South Africa.
“A specification that does not test for a substance is not a specification. It is a document,” said Bobby Ramagwede, Chief Executive Officer of the AA.
“Motorists on the Garden Route bought petrol at ordinary forecourts, watched the paint come off their cars, and paid the panel beater for the repairs themselves.”
Consumer Protection Concerns
The AA believes the reported incidents highlight the need for stronger consumer protection measures and greater transparency regarding fuel quality monitoring.
The organisation argues that motorists purchasing fuel from licensed retail outlets should have confidence that products meet established standards and that any potentially harmful substances are effectively monitored through a comprehensive testing regime.
According to the AA, fuel specifications are only meaningful when they are supported by regular testing, enforcement mechanisms and publicly available results.
Broader Questions Around PetroSA
Beyond fuel quality concerns, the association is also calling for greater transparency regarding PetroSA's financial obligations and the potential impact on taxpayers.
Reports have indicated that PetroSA carries substantial liabilities, including amounts allegedly owed to the South African Revenue Service (SARS), fuel trader Addax and other creditors. Additional claims linked to the legal proceedings have further heightened calls for public disclosure.
“Before a single liability is transferred, we also call for a full audited schedule of what the public is absorbing to be tabled,” Ramagwede said.
The AA maintains that any financial commitments that may ultimately affect the public should be clearly disclosed before Parliament considers legislation related to the future structure of the country's petroleum sector.
Fuel Security and Market Stability
The organisation has also cautioned against suggestions that the legal proceedings represent the end of South Africa's domestic refining capability.
According to the AA, PetroSA's Mossel Bay gas-to-liquids facility ceased production in 2020, meaning that liquidation proceedings would not result in the closure of an operational refinery.
“Liquidation would not close a working refinery. It would formalise a closure that happened six years ago,” said Ramagwede.
AA's Recommendations
The AA has proposed several measures aimed at improving fuel quality oversight, consumer protection and transparency:
- Publication of an approved testing methodology for N-methylaniline.
- Announcement of a timeline for the implementation of fuel testing.
- Establishment of a national fuel testing programme with quarterly public reporting.
- Publication of an audited schedule of PetroSA's liabilities before any parliamentary vote affecting the company's future obligations.
- Creation of a clear process for motorists seeking compensation for fuel-related vehicle damage.
- Monthly publication of South Africa's petrol and diesel stock levels and national days-of-cover figures.
The association has also encouraged fleet operators, logistics companies and independent fuel retailers to request certificates of analysis for bulk fuel deliveries and to retain samples from every load as an additional safeguard.
The AA emphasised that its comments are limited to issues of regulation, transparency and fuel supply security. The organisation has not alleged wrongdoing by any party involved in the ongoing legal proceedings and has not expressed an opinion on the merits of the court application currently before the Western Cape Division of the High Court.
