Government says South Africa is not running out of fuel, despite shortages reported at some petrol stations across the country. Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said the problem is being driven by logistics pressure, panic buying and fuel hoarding rather than a national supply failure.

Speaking in Pretoria on Thursday, Ntshavheni said South Africa’s fuel system remains adequately supplied in the short term. She urged motorists not to panic, warning that sudden spikes in demand are making it harder for fuel to reach stations on time.

Why Stations are Running Dry

According to Ntshavheni, current shortages in some areas are linked to local distribution problems. She said long queues and heavy buying have disrupted normal fuel deliveries, even though national stocks remain available. Government expects the situation to ease in the coming days if buying patterns return to normal.

Her comments come as South Africans face what has been described as the biggest fuel price increase in the country’s history. The sharp increases took effect on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, after global oil prices surged amid conflict in the Middle East.

Relief Plan After Record Fuel Hike

In response, National Treasury and the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources introduced a temporary R3 tax reprieve on petrol and diesel for April. That cut the general fuel levy from R4.10 to R1.10 per litre for petrol, and from R3.93 to 93 cents for diesel.

Even with that relief, petrol still rose by R3.06 per litre. Diesel increased by between R7.37 and R7.51 per litre, while illuminating paraffin jumped by R11.67 per litre. Treasury said the tax measure could cost the state about R6 billion a month and will be reviewed monthly over the next two months.

South Africa Looks Beyond the Crisis

Ntshavheni also said South Africa does not depend on the Middle East for crude oil, with crude supply coming from Angola and Nigeria. She said the country relies on the region only for refined products. Government is now also looking at rebuilding domestic refining capacity as part of a longer-term plan to strengthen energy security and reduce future risk.