# South Africa is seeing a rise in vehicles being written off for minor damage due to high repair costs driven by spare parts shortages. Santam’s Thabo Twalo told Daily Investor the trend is fueled by global trade tensions, including US tariffs under president Donald Trump. Parts delays and price hikes, particularly from China and the European Union, have pushed insurers to classify repairable vehicles as total losses. He says this has increased pressure on commercial claims and the local insurance sector.
Shortage of spare parts drives up write-offs in South African motor claims