Wednesday, 2 September 2026

The upgraded South African Toyota Starlet scored four stars after its predecessor received zero for adult protection; more than 20,000 older, less safe models remain on the roads.

Global NCAP found the upgraded Starlet’s body shell still unstable and child protection unchanged at three stars, showing airbags improved protection without fixing the underlying structure.

South Africa’s proposed entry-level safety regulations would require four airbags, including two curtain airbags, while electronic stability control remains optional despite calls to make it mandatory.

Western Cape blood stocks were critically low, with O-positive and O-negative supplies at roughly two days; eligible donors aged 16 to 75 were urged to donate urgently.

A court upheld that custom-built lounge cabinets were fixtures, ordering the seller to pay R123,000 in replacement value plus legal costs after a four-year dispute.