Fuel stations report shortages ahead of price hike

Fuel pump nozzles at a Q8 gas station

Some fuel stations in Johannesburg say they are running low on supply as motorists rush to fill up ahead of an expected fuel price increase at midnight.

Petrol is set to rise by more than R5 per litre, while diesel could increase by nearly R10 per litre. The increase is linked to global oil price pressures associated with tensions involving the United States, Israel and Iran.

Manager of the Engen fuel station in Auckland Park, Oscar Dumani, says supplies are already under strain.

“We are a bit under pressure and we are not getting enough as expected. Normally, our tank capacity is around 23 000 a tank, of which they are not giving us enough. And it’s a sign that they are struggling on their end in terms of delivering supplies and all that. We are really panicking because we are seeing some other service stations are dry already, which causes a lot of pressure on us and it can lead to us getting dry as well,” said Dumani.

South Africans brace for fuel surge as petrol jumps R5 and diesel rises over R9 per litre:
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The South African National Taxi Council has called on government to provide clarity on the increases and to engage with the industry on relief measures.

SANTACO spokesperson Mmatshikhidi Phala says rising diesel costs are a major concern.

“The increases in diesel in particular are even more concerning because it appears fuel stations are overpricing it thereby taking advantage of its lessened regulation in comparison to petrol, thereby overpricing how much a litre should cost. The presidency of the council has said that the council is acting with urgency to stabilise the situation and protect both operators and commuters,” said Phala.

The Fuel Retailer Association (FRA), assured motorists that there is a stable supply of both petrol and diesel across the country, despite reports of several fuel stations having run out of supply.

The FRA says this has been linked to motorists panic buying, as as petrol is expected to rise by more than R5 per litre at midnight – while diesel could increase by nearly R10 per litre.

CEO of the FRA, Reggie Sibiya says the country is stable on on product supply.

“So far the country has been stable on product supply and and what really has been causing the shortages in some of the filling stations has really been the fact that there has been panic buying, mainly you know pushed by social media and that was not factual at all.”

WATCH | Some fuel stations in Mbombela, Mpumalanga are running low on petrol and diesel as motorists engage in panic buying ahead of an expected price increase. SABC News reporter Tumelo Machogo is monitoring developments. pic.twitter.com/pE0a6xk1yM

— SABC News (@SABCNews) March 31, 2026