 There are 9,2-million vehicles registered in South Africa, says Automobile Association (AA) public affairs manager Gary Ronald, with “around four-million unregistered vehicles on top of that”.
The country had a registered vehicle population of 6,7-million by the end of March 2000. By the end of March this year, Gauteng – the economic powerhouse of the country – had a registered vehicle population of 3,5-million. In contrast to this the province had a “mere” 2,5-million registered vehicles by the end of March 2000, says Ronald. This means the number of registered vehicles in South Africa increased by 2,5-million vehicles from 2000 to 2008, with one-million (or 40%) of these finding a parking space in Gauteng. Gauteng fuel sales have also increased significantly from 2000 to 2008, says Ronald. By the end of January 2000, petrol sales in Gauteng reached 282-million litres of petrol for the month, and 52-million litres of diesel. However, by the end of January 2008, Gauteng fuel sales have jumped to 319-million litres of petrol for the month, and 120-million litres of diesel. Ronald says he expects the rising cost of fuel to stimulate demand for “viable, safe public transport systems”. |
