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.

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

Volkswagen has accordingly denied any liability for the allegations in the lawsuit and any wrongdoing. 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. Any payment is made as a gesture of goodwill for the purposes of certainty, commercial expediency and to avoid further legal costs.

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.

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 centre at support@vwconnect.co.za or call 0860 434 737 to verify the legitimacy of the Settlement.

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.

The “Settlement Class” is specifically defined as all persons (including individuals and entities) who, prior to September 22, 2015, purchased (whether outright or by way of a third-party finance arrangement concluded with a Financial Institution) or leased a Class Vehicle. The following entities and individuals are excluded from the Class:

• Officers, directors and employees of Volkswagen South Africa (“VWSA”);
• Affiliates and affiliates’ officers, directors and employees of VWSA;
• Distributors and distributors’ officers, directors and employees of VWSA;
• Judicial officers seized of the matter and their immediate family members, and associate court staff;
• Institutions or entities providing financing to class members; and
• All those otherwise in the Class who or which timely and properly exclude themselves from the Class as provided in the Class Settlement Agreement and as also set forth on this website.

If there are multiple valid claims for the same car (for example, two previous owners), the Settlement Administrator will split the payment for the vehicle equally between them.

You can claim for each qualifying vehicle you owned or leased during the qualifying period.

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.

Under the terms of the Settlement, eligible claimants who submit a timely, valid claim may receive up to R10,000 per vehicle. The amount may be less depending on how many people submit valid claims.

The settlement sets aside a fixed pool of money for all class members. If total valid claims exceed available funds, each person’s payment is reduced proportionally (“pro rata reduction”).

You must file a claim by 30 March 2026. Use your personalised QR code from the notice you received (email/SMS/WhatsApp/Telegram), or visit the My Claim page for instructions.

Yes. Requirements depend on your payment method.

Bank deposit (into one of these banks): ABSA, Access Bank, African Bank, Capitec Bank, Discovery Bank, FinBond Mutual Bank, First National Bank (FNB), Grindrod Bank, Investec, Mercantile Bank, Nedbank, Sasfin Bank, Standard Bank, Tyme Bank, UBank — you must submit a bank confirmation letter.

Other banks or eWallet: submit (1) a certified copy of your ID or company registration certificate, and (2) if you choose bank deposit, a bank confirmation letter. (No bank letter needed for eWallet.)

You can obtain a bank confirmation letter via your bank’s mobile app or secure web portal. You can find instructions on how to do this on the My Claim page. If you prefer, visit a branch and request assistance to obtain a confirmation letter.

Choose one when submitting your claim:

1. Direct deposit into your bank account (requires a valid bank confirmation letter).
2. eWallet payment to your mobile number (no bank letter required).

Payments are made using secure, verified systems once claims are approved and funds are available.

No, settlement payments under this programme are not considered taxable income under current South African law. If you have specific questions, consult your tax advisor.

No. Payments can only be made to the verified claimant who owned or leased the vehicle before 22 September 2015.

Payment will be made after the High Court approves all terms and implementation stages of the Settlement, and after Spot Settlements finalises claims review and approvals to determine final payment amounts. This may take several months.

Check the Updates page for timing announcements.

After submission, you’ll see an on-screen confirmation and receive a message (email/SMS/WhatsApp/Telegram) with your claim number and date. You’ll be notified when your claim is approved or if more info is needed. You can check status anytime on the My Claim page.

Contact Spot Settlements via any method on the Contact page. Support is available by phone, WhatsApp, Telegram, and email.

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.