What to do when you have a break down in South Africa

Make sure you know where your jack and tyre tools are, and speak to your rental company about what to do if you break down completely. If you can phone them they’ll probably be able to send someone to assist you, no matter where you are. It’s a good idea to have a local sim card with calling credit. Roaming calls can be very expensive.

Private towing companies operate in certain areas and they can be a nuisance when trying to get business. Tell them you have a rental and that help is on the way, and don’t take no for an answer. If you break down at night, deploy your reflective triangle to warn traffic. Long-haul trucks often pull into the hard shoulder to allow other vehicles to pass – give them at least 100m warning if you can. If you feel unsafe for any reason you can and should call the police. But don’t panic, there’s seldom cause for alarm, just inconvenience. Don’t be afraid to ask for help from locals. They’ll usually assist you in any way they can.