The Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources has urged calm amid growing public anxiety, insisting there is no national fuel shortage and warning that panic buying could destabilise supply.
In a joint statement with the Fuels Industry Association of South Africa, government said:
“South Africa’s fuel supply remains stable in the immediate term, and there is no basis for panic-buying.”
Authorities acknowledged isolated disruptions but stressed they are not systemic:
“There may be isolated localised logistical challenges… these are operational in nature and do not constitute a national supply shortage.”
The warning comes as motorists across South Africa report sporadic shortages, largely driven by distribution bottlenecks, including delays in transporting fuel from depots to service stations. Officials cautioned against linking these to global crises:
“It is incorrect and misleading to link such isolated domestic logistical matters to broader geopolitical developments.”
However, global factors are still shaping the broader fuel environment. Rising oil prices, triggered by geopolitical tensions, particularly the ongoing disruptions linked to US-Israeli war on Iran, and Middle East conflicts, are tightening supply chains worldwide. Reduced output from key producers, shipping risks, and currency pressures in import-dependent economies have all contributed to price volatility and supply strain in countries beyond South Africa.
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Government warned that misinformation is now a bigger threat than supply itself:
“Calls for the public to rush to the pumps are irresponsible. They place undue pressure on supply systems.”
Consumers have been urged to buy fuel normally and rely on verified updates:
“Members of the public are encouraged to continue purchasing fuel in the normal course.”
While global pressures are real, South Africa’s immediate challenge is managing perception, not scarcity, and avoiding a crisis created by panic rather than actual shortage.
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