Motus Holdings believes it has identified a workable alternative to forced retrenchments within its South African vehicle retail division, arguing that its revised proposal has already prevented significant job losses.
The group says continued engagement and mitigation measures have substantially reduced the number of employees affected by its restructuring process.
According to a statement issued by SA Vehicle Retail, a division of Motus, more than 250 positions have been preserved through the re alignment of incentive structures and company car benefits. This reduced the number of potentially impacted employees from 570 to 318, representing a 44 percent improvement from initial projections.
The statement follows the Motor Industry Staff Association (MISA) declaring a dispute with Motus over the process. Motus, however, maintains that the re alignment initiative is distinct from the earlier retrenchment of 67 employees, which has already been concluded.
Under the revised offer presented to MISA, basic salaries will remain unchanged, with the exception of senior management, who agreed to salary reductions of up to 30 percent from August 2025. Employees earning below R15 000 per month are excluded from the process, while changes for administrative and support staff are capped at less than 20 percent of total remuneration and aligned with industry benchmarks.
SA Retail notes that affected employees currently earn on average 160 percent above the Motor Industry Bargaining Council minimum. Should the proposal be accepted, these employees would still earn an average of 125 percent above the minimum.
SA Retail CEO Gideon Jansen van Rensburg confirmed that “there have not been any changes to conditions of employment or benefits, and all employees were paid their full salaries and incentives on the 23rd of January 2026”.
Despite the revised offer, MISA has not accepted the proposal nor submitted alternative options. Motus says it remains committed to continued engagement aimed at minimising further job losses.
Staff Writer
Reporting from the front lines of the automotive industry, delivering expert analysis and the technical updates that drive the South African motor sector forward.
