Mikel Mabasa
Naamsa | the Automotive Business Council says the local automotive industry is assessing its state of readiness to implement the Automotive Aftermarket Guidelines on July 1.
These Guidelines were published by the Competition Commission of South Africa on December 10 and aim to provide improved access to black-owned and small and medium-sized enterprises to undertake service, maintenance and repair work on vehicles, including the period covered by a warranty.
Naamsa says it views the introduction of the guidelines as “a positive disruption”, that will further “enhance and hasten the sector’s transformation ambitions”.
Naamsa CEO Mikel Mabasa says the automotive industry body will meet with the Competition Commission in the coming weeks to share its general state of readiness.
“We are mindful that not all our members are at the same level, or state of readiness.
“For this reason, we will transparently discuss our existing implementation plans ahead of July 1, and carefully consider how those principles, which may not be fully ready for implementation, will be phased-in to ensure full adoption and compliance within a reasonable time frame.
“Once fully aligned, members of the public will be kept informed at every step in order to ensure that accurate information is communicated at all times,” says Mabasa.
He adds that there has been “some reckless and persistent misrepresentation and miscommunication of what the Guidelines are all about”.
“There are individuals and irresponsible groups who have made it their preoccupation to make public pronouncements that misrepresent and/or distort the true meaning behind the intent and the spirit of some of the principles within the Guidelines, in order to advance their narrow selfish commercial interests.
“To this effect, Naamsa will join the Competition Commission to distribute public educational material in order to intensify accurate messaging campaigns around the Guidelines,” says Mabasa.