Fuel might cost more tomorrow, but their smiles won’t!

The South African Fuel Retailers Association is trying to pre-empt petrol price hike panic in Gauteng just hours before the price of go-go juice flies up a massive 34c around the country.

The FRA issued a statement following reports that Gauteng motorists were panic-buying petrol prior to midnight tonight due to several stations in the province running dry.

According to the FRA, several factors are working against Gauteng motorists at once:

First, there is the price hike, causing stress as motorists attempt to fill up before midnight tonight, which also puts pressure on stations around the province. Secondly, there have been regular (but not permanent) fuel supply shortages to certain stations in the province since the SAPREF refinery in Durban shut down following mechanical problems. It’s the country’s largest refinery, and is only likely to re-open in mid-February or early March.

FRA spokesperson, Reggie Sibiya, deftly concluded his analysis by urging Gautengers not to panic buy, saying:

The problem lies in that the supply chain is not functioning as it should with the closure of the Sapref refinery. Even though the price of petrol is going up and people think they’ll make a huge saving by filling up before Wednesday, this isn’t so.

I’m not sure I follow that line of logic, Reggie. Meanwhile, as Gauteng petrol pumps descend into anarchy:

[Source: TIMES Live]