Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni has attributed the current fuel shortages as due to logistics and consumer behaviour rather than a lack of supply.
Image: GCIS
Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni stated that the South African government does not rely on the Middle East for crude oil, as it only sources refined products from that region.
She confirmed that fuel supplies in the country are stable and urged citizens to avoid panic buying and hoarding, which could worsen the situation.
Speaking to the media on Thursday, Ntshavheni said the country’s crude oil comes from Angola and Nigeria.
“Cabinet joined President Cyril Ramaphosa in calling for an immediate ceasefire in the US-Israel-Iran conflict, which is negatively affecting the Middle East region and the world,” she said.
“Cabinet is kept abreast of the security of domestic fuel supply, which is affected by the ongoing war, and it was assured that South Africa's fuel system remains adequately supplied in the immediate period.”
Ntshavheni emphasised that South Africa only relies on the Middle East for refined products.
She said Ramaphosa has established a Ministerial Task Team, chaired by the Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, Gwede Mantashe, to coordinate a holistic government response aimed at mitigating the impact of the crisis on the cost of living, fuel, and food security.
The team includes the ministers of Finance, Transport, Trade, Industry and Competition, International Relations and Cooperation, Agriculture, Electricity and Energy, Forestry, Fisheries and Environment, and the Presidency.
“As an immediate intervention, the Task Team recommended a reduction in the fuel levy to alleviate the impact of fuel price increases that took effect on Wednesday, April 1, 2026,” Ntshavheni said.
She reassured citizens that fuel supplies are stable.
“We would like to assure South Africans that fuel supplies in the country remain stable,” she said.
“Current shortages at some stations are due to logistics constraints caused by panic buying and fuel hoarding. South Africans are discouraged from panic buying and fuel hoarding.”
Ntshavheni said panic buying and the holding are creating logistics problems for supply.
“But we've got an adequate supply for the immediate. So, depending on how South Africans behave, that will determine the extent to which we've got the supply.”
She said the government also clarified that in terms of the country’s reliance on crude oil is not coming from the Middle East, but only refined products.
“Our crude oil is coming from Angola and Nigeria. It's only the refined products. And you must recall that we've got a refining capacity ourselves as a country. It's just that we have not, when they shut down, we have not moved fast to restore that capacity.”
Her comments come as South Africans brace for what is being described as the largest fuel price increase in the country’s history.
Panic buying has been reported nationwide, causing long queues and congestion at filling stations.
The sharp increases, which took effect on Wednesday, April 1, follow a surge in international oil prices linked to conflict in the Middle East over the past month.
In response, the National Treasury and the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources (DMPR) announced a temporary relief measure: a R3 tax reprieve on petrol and diesel for April.
Following the adjustments, the price of 95 unleaded petrol now stands at R22.53 per litre at the coast and R23.36 inland, while 93 unleaded petrol inland costs R23.25 per litre.
Meanwhile, 50ppm diesel has risen to R25.35 per litre at the coast and R26.11 in Gauteng.
The Treasury said the relief measure, expected to cost the government about R6 billion per month, will be reviewed monthly over the next two months.
The government also stressed that national fuel supply is sufficient to meet demand.