Season 14 Episode 19

Ipeleng Mabusela on the future of road safety and vehicle standards in South Africa

30 March 2026 · 18:07 min

In this episode of Business Talk, Michael Avery speaks to Ipeleng Mabusela, CEO of the Retail Motor Industry Organisation (RMI), about the critical but often overlooked role of South Africa’s automotive retail and aftermarket sector. Representing over 8,500 businesses and supporting hundreds of… thousands of jobs, the RMI plays a vital role in keeping the country mobile. Ipeleng unpacks what the RMI badge means for consumers, how accreditation protects motorists, and why trust and standards matter in an industry that touches millions of lives every day.

The conversation also tackles a pressing national issue: road safety. With the average vehicle age in South Africa now over 10 years, Ipeleng argues that vehicle condition is a major but underreported contributor to accidents. He calls for stronger enforcement of periodic vehicle testing and urges motorists to prioritise regular servicing, especially during peak travel periods like Easter. It’s a timely reminder that road safety starts not only with driver behaviour, but with the roadworthiness of the vehicle itself. Show more