Pretoria – Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni says South Africa has sufficient fuel supplies, despite widespread panic buying that has caused long queues and temporary shortages at petrol stations across the country.
Motorists rushed to fill up following a sharp fuel price increase on 1 April 2026, when petrol rose by R3.06 per litre, pushing 93 and 95 unleaded above R23 per litre.
The spike was driven by global oil market instability linked to conflict in the Middle East.
Speaking during a media briefing on Thursday, Ntshavheni said the shortages are not due to supply failure but are caused by panic buying and fuel hoarding, which is disrupting normal distribution logistics.
“Fuel supplies in the country remain stable and the current dry fuel stations are a result of logistic constraints due to panic buying and fuel hoarding,” she said.
[WATCH] Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni says the government does not rely on the Middle East for crude oil but only sources refined products. “Our crude oil is coming from Angola and Nigeria.” #Newzroom405 pic.twitter.com/53AAgaGMHr
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) April 2, 2026
She warned that consumer behaviour is worsening the situation by exhausting station stock faster than scheduled deliveries.
Fuel depots, she explained, are often far from service stations, making replenishment slower when demand spikes unexpectedly.
South Africa’s crude oil imports are mainly sourced from Angola and Nigeria, but the country still relies on imported refined fuel, some of which comes from the Middle East.
Ntshavheni noted that damage to refining infrastructure in that region is contributing to global price volatility.
Even if geopolitical tensions ease, she said, global fuel stability will take time to recover as refineries are rebuilt.
The government is also reviewing long-term energy security, including plans to rebuild South Africa’s refining capacity and reduce reliance on external suppliers, while assessing broader economic impacts such as food security and transport costs.
Ntshavheni also addressed complaints about illegal price increases at some fuel stations, saying fuel pricing is regulated and that a reporting system will be publicised for consumers to flag violations.
Picture: Pixabay
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
