Chery South Africa launches Cherished: the ultimate pre-owned vehicle programme
Chery South Africa has launched its certified pre-owned vehicle programme called Cherished.
The Chinese manufacturer has steadily been making inroads into the local market and currently find themselves in seventh place overall on the monthly sales charts.
The popular Chery Tiggo 4 Pro compact SUV with a 1.5L naturally aspirated engine or a 1.5 turbocharged engine was in eighth place and the Chery Tiggo 7 Pro SUV with its 1.5-liter turbocharged engine in 27th place for the month of April.
As South African buyers continue to take strain in a struggling economy they are buying down but still looking for value for money.
With the Chinese invasion, many have taken to them as they provide a host of technological and other features not always offered by the competition at a reasonable price.

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IOL News
8 hours ago
- IOL News
Are we inviting the World Bank's interference or seeking genuine support?
Later this year the World Bank Group will launch the second pilot edition of its B-READY report, a new benchmark for assessing global business climates. Image: Wikipedia Has the World Bank's flagship business index already been hijacked — from a South African perspective — even before the country's debut in the pilot phase? Money, as Ayn Rand wrote, is the barometer of a society's virtue. In her 1957 novel Atlas Shrugged, Rand observed: 'When you see that trading is done not by consent but by compulsion, when you see that to produce, you need permission from men who produce nothing, when money flows to those dealing in favors rather than goods — when corruption is rewarded and honesty becomes self-sacrifice — you may know your society is doomed.' Nearly seven decades later, her words remain chillingly relevant. Later this year (September–October 2025), the World Bank Group (WBG) will launch the second pilot edition of its Business Ready (B-READY) report, a new benchmark for assessing global business climates. South Africa is set to join the third pilot in 2026, alongside 184 economies, before the project's full rollout in 2027. B-READY, an evolution of the discontinued Doing Business survey, evaluates regulatory frameworks and public services affecting firms. For South Africa, the index focuses on 10 key areas — business entry, utilities, labour, financial services, taxation, dispute resolution, and more — spanning four departments: Employment and Labour; Finance; Small Business Development; and Trade, Industry, and Competition. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ The WBG has already critiqued South Africa's 'hard regulations', including BEE policies, local content rules, and collective bargaining, arguing they stifle implementation and breed corruption. A February 2025 WBG report, Driving Inclusive Growth in South Africa, also highlighted weak market competition as a critical flaw. Notably, the report's contributors included prominent South African economists and private-sector representatives — Tania Ajam, Haroon Bhorat, Mcebisi Jonas, and others. While the World Bank is a respected institution, its reports often reflect local biases rather than impartial Washington analysis. South African policymakers are well aware of this — and of attempts to influence policy through institutions and 'experts' of perceived gravitas. B-READY's methodology relies on firm-level surveys and confidential expert input, raising questions about transparency. In a country with low internet penetration and a gatekeeping culture, how representative will these surveys be? The selection process — scouring LinkedIn, conferences, and embassy directories — hardly guarantees objectivity. The Doing Business report's demise in 2020 followed data manipulation scandals involving China, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. Is South Africa immune to such interference? With competing economic agendas, disjointed governance, and external pressures (including from Trump-aligned figures), the risk of distortion is real. Domestically, the DA is challenging labour laws in court, while AfriForum lobbies foreign governments against B-BBEE. Meanwhile, institutions such as the CIPC, Competition Commission, and SARS — though theoretically capable of enabling business — remain inefficient and disjointed. Consider recent examples: CIPC's mass deregistration of 'non-compliant' companies, under the guise of FATF compliance, ignores South Africa's unemployment crisis. Private-sector exploitation of undocumented workers (Uber, SPAR franchises) flouts labour and tax laws. Tshwane's revenue crackdown exposes rampant illegal utility connections by businesses. Will the World Bank's surveys capture these realities? Or will its findings — like past reports — be skewed by advocacy masquerading as research? A 2005 evaluation of WBG research (led by Nobel laureate Angus Deaton) found that the Bank elevated favourable studies and ignored inconvenient ones, blurring the line between analysis and agenda. South Africa doesn't need external interference — it needs will. Regulatory bodies must function cohesively. Policies should enable, not strangle. And if B-READY is to be Rand's 'noble medium', it must resist becoming another tool of coercion. The question lingers: Is the World Bank's index a genuine reform tool—or a new frontier of influence against South Africa? * Makgwathane Mothapo is a marketing and communications practitioner. ** The views expressed here do not reflect those of the Sunday Independent, IOL, or Independent Media. Get the real story on the go: Follow the Sunday Independent on WhatsApp.

The Star
8 hours ago
- The Star
The state of the adult industry in SA: A market under pressure
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The South African adult industry, once dominated by a few brick-and-mortar stores offering high-end, discreet and knowledgeable service, is now navigating choppy waters. A convergence of economic, regulatory, logistical, and digital challenges is threatening the survival of longstanding adult retailers and reshaping the landscape of the industry entirely. The Decline of Physical Retail: A Perfect Storm Retail across all sectors has been under pressure, but adult retail in South Africa faces unique hurdles. High commercial rentals—especially in premium, upmarket areas—have made it nearly impossible for adult stores to compete for desirable locations. Despite a more progressive approach to sexual wellness, adult shops still face stigmas that prevent them from gaining access to malls and retail zones with high foot traffic. Zoning laws and landlord reluctance mean many are forced into industrial areas or low-traffic locations, which impacts visibility and footfall and keeps the industry feeling sleezy. Coupled with rising utilities and security costs due to persistent load shedding and crime, maintaining a physical presence has become financially untenable for many businesses. The shift to online retail, accelerated by COVID-19, has only exacerbated this decline. Regulatory Red Tape and Technical Hurdles Beyond rental issues, South African adult retailers also face harsh regulatory and logistical hurdles The South African National Standards (SANS) require that all rechargeable adult toys—those containing lithium batteries—meet strict safety compliance standards. Importers must register, test, and certify each model, even if it's a variation of an existing design. This costly and time-consuming process significantly delays product launches and adds to overheads. Moreover, lithium batteries are considered dangerous goods for air transport, leading to additional courier fees and complex logistics. These costs are passed on to the consumer, making locally-sourced products far more expensive than the same items bought from international platforms—many of which skip compliance and safety procedures entirely. The Online Competition Conundrum Online giants like Temu, Shein, and Wish have further eroded the profitability of local Players. These platforms offer cheap adult toys, shipped directly from overseas, often without duties being paid or regulatory compliance being met. These products are rarely covered by warranties and come with no after-sales service or consumer protections. Consumers, facing their own financial constraints, are increasingly opting for lower-cost alternatives, despite the risks. The result? Local adult stores can't compete on price and are losing market share rapidly. Reputable South African brands that offered education, discretion, high-quality products, and in-store expertise are being edged out by volume-based, faceless e-commerce operations. The Bigger Picture: Industry at Risk This collision of factors—regulatory barriers, high rentals, unfair import practices, and international competition—is having a significant impact on the adult industry as a whole. Once-thriving businesses are closing their doors, scaling back operations, or being forced to compromise on quality to survive. The broader implications are concerning - fewer safe, informed spaces to explore sexual health and wellness, job losses in an already struggling economy, and a decline in consumer rights and product safety standards. What Can Be Done? 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Collective Bargaining and Bulk Shipping: Local retailers could form cooperatives to pool resources for compliance testing and shipping, reducing costs and increasing bargaining power with regulators and couriers. Our wholesalers have entered the retail market making competition even more difficult. Digital Excellence and Hybrid Models: Investing in sleek, educational online stores with excellent service, discreet delivery, and local credibility could win back customers. Hybrid models that blend online with experiential pop-ups or events could also offer a future path. Those who have the capital are trying. Temu is still winning. The adult industry in South Africa is at a crossroads. Without urgent and coordinated efforts to address the unique pressures it faces—from compliance costs to online competition—it risks becoming an underground or entirely imported market, devoid of trusted local brands and service. 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The South African
9 hours ago
- The South African
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