A class action is when one or more people called “representatives” bring a lawsuit on behalf of a group of people who they believe have similar legal claims arising out of the same legal cause of action.

This lets everyone make their claims together in just one case, instead of each person having to start their own lawsuit. Together, this group is called a “class,” and individual members of the group are known as “class members.”

When a class action is settled, the Court resolves the issues in the lawsuit for all class members at once and approves a settlement that is for the benefit for all of the class members.

Volkswagen faced a proposed class action lawsuit filed in 2018 in the High Court of South Africa (Gauteng Division, Johannesburg) related to the emissions of certain Volkswagen and Audi vehicles with EA189 diesel engines in South Africa. This Settlement relates to these proceedings.

The National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (“NRCS”) found that the class vehicles sold in South Africa complied with the applicable compulsory specifications and emission regulations.

As part of the Volkswagen Group's commitment to resolving historic diesel emissions related litigation, Volkswagen of South Africa has entered into a class action settlement agreement to resolve the claims.

Spot Settlements is an independent company that has been appointed jointly by agreement between the parties to the Settlement and confirmed by the High Court of South Africa (Gauteng Division, Johannesburg) to act as the official Settlement Administrator for the notice and claims program for the VW EA189 Diesel Settlement in South Africa. Spot Settlements is unrelated to the parties in the lawsuit.

No, this class action settlement is not a scam. The Settlement resolves legal claims in a case before the High Court of South Africa (Gauteng Division, Johannesburg), and is subject to court oversight and approval.

If you want to check for yourself, you can contact your nearest Volkswagen dealership. You can also contact Volkswagen of South Africa’s customer interaction centre at support@vwconnect.co.za or call 0860 434 737 to verify the legitimacy of the Settlement and confirm Spot Settlements' appointment to administer claims relating to the Settlement. The customer interaction centre will redirect you to Spot Settlements.

If someone contacts you stating that the correspondence is about this Settlement, please contact Spot Settlements to verify the authenticity of any information, link or email received. Our contact details are available on the Contact page. The telephone number, WhatsApp and Telegram numbers that will be used to communicate with you are listed there. Other numbers using our logo, information or claiming to be us may be scams.

If you bought or leased certain Volkswagen or Audi diesel cars equipped with an EA189 diesel engine before 22 September 2015, you may be eligible for payment under the proposed Settlement if you submit a valid claim on time.

If you owned or leased a Volkswagen or Audi EA189 diesel engine vehicle before 22 September 2015, you may still qualify, even if you sold the vehicle.

The Court overseeing this case authorised Spot Settlements to contact you and other potential class members to inform you about your rights and legal obligations under the class action Settlement. You were identified as a person who may be a member of the Class and eligible to participate in the Settlement. This is based on vehicle purchase records and eNaTIS data for Volkswagen and Audi EA189 diesel vehicles.

If you don’t want us to contact you again, please see POPIA. Remember, we can’t process your claim if you refuse all contact.

We obtained your information from the electronic national administration traffic information system (eNaTIS), which lists all vehicle owners. This was done with direction from the High Court of South Africa as Spot Settlements has been appointed as the Settlement Administrator to contact all potential class members.

1. Submit a claim. Provide basic information and supporting documents. Deadline: 30 March 2026. You will release your legal claims. See the My Claim page.
2. Exclude yourself. You won’t receive payment and you keep your right to sue. See the Opt-Out page.
3. Object to the Settlement. Raise concerns while remaining in the Class. See the Objection page.
4. Do nothing. You won’t get a payment and you’ll still be bound by the Settlement.
5. Request not to be contacted again. See POPIA. Note: we can’t process your claim without necessary communication; partial opt-out options are explained there.

Requesting removal from the contact list is not the same as objecting or opting out.

You must file a claim by 30 March 2026 to be eligible to receive payment from the Settlement. Submitting a claim requires basic information and documents to verify your eligibility, and should take you just a few minutes to complete. Visit the My Claim page for instructions.

Yes. Requirements depend on your payment method. Further details will be made available through the claims process.

The deadline to submit your claim is 30 March 2026. Late claims are not eligible unless the Court grants an extension under exceptional circumstances. Please submit as soon as possible.

You may submit an objection to the Settlement Administrator (Spot Settlements) yourself or through your own attorney (at your expense). See the Objection page for instructions and deadlines. Filing an objection does not remove you from the Class; you may still submit a claim if the Settlement is approved.

Follow the steps on the Opt-Out page. If you opt out, you won’t receive payment but you retain the right to pursue your own legal action. If you do nothing, you’ll be bound by the Settlement and release your right to sue on the same matters.

No. Submitting a claim through the claims process is free. If anyone asks you for money, do not pay. Report it to webmaster@spotsettlements.co.za.