are u allowed to buy the protection plan just before the warranty expires? I thought you had to buy apple care when u purchased the mac? I may be way off though...
You can buy this on Ebay and have serial number mailed to you -just buy from someone with good feedback. You can buy Apple Care as long as the machine is still in warranty - but make sure that you register this as soon as you can and before the warranty runs out. It is only valid from when you register not from when you purchase.
I am not sure if you can buy a machine in SA and then buy Apple Care, and use it through Core (Distributor). Core will honour the Apple Care if the machine was purchased outside SA and has Apple Care. Have not heard anyone buying a machine from them and then getting apple care honored but I could be wrong.