At Naamsa The Automotive Business Council's South African Auto Week conference last October, Ramaphosa said the country was considering introducing incentives to encourage not only the local manufacture of new-energy vehicles but also tax rebates for those looking to move to the technology.
Now Charge formerly Zero Carbon Charge - a company building a network of 120 off-grid EV charging stations across South Africa - has called on trade, industry competition minister Parks Tau to "urgently reduce the excessive tax duties on importing EVs into South Africa", describing the move as "a critical step to developing and strengthening a viable EV market".
The company said it has written a letter to Tau, imploring him to end the penalisation of electric cars through high duties.
"Currently, imported electric vehicles are subject to a 25 import duty, plus an ad valorem tax that can reach up to 30 depending on the vehicle's value, while internal combustion engine ICE vehicles - including those with high carbon emissions - generally face only an 18 import duty, or 15 if imported under certain trade agreements," it said.
"South Africa's current EV import duties, which make EVs far more expensive than ICE vehicles, are actively stalling market growth," said Joubert Roux, founder of Charge.