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Cape Town - Several petrol stations ran out of fuel as motorists rushed to fill up ahead of the huge price hike that took effect from midnight on Tuesday evening.
Fin24 only managed to get unleaded petrol at a service station in Crawford, Cape Town, while other stations turned motorists away. That was as early as 19:30 on Tuesday.
Where rows of petrol pumps were blocked off with anything from dust bins and safety cones at the stations that ran out of fuel, the service station in Crawford was well organised, with all twelve pumps operational. The manager, who directed motorists to specific pumps to keep queues short, told Fin24 that it was "unethical" and "I think illegal" to sell old stock at higher prices.
He was, however, quick to add that service station owners were warned of a run on garages ahead of the petrol price increase which could lead to shortages.
The manager, who wanted to remain anonymous, said he ordered a petrol drop on Sunday to handle the expected influx of motorists. He said he was only granted half of his requested 60 000 litres of fuel.
"It is very well possible that the other stations could have run out of fuel. At most of the stations the next drop would only be just after midnight or tomorrow morning," he said.
The Department of Energy announced on Friday that petrol will go up by up to R1.62 a litre from Wednesday.
At the coast 95 ULP and LRP will go up by R1.60, and in Gauteng it will increase by R1.62, while 93 ULP and LRP will cost R1.56 and R1.54 more in Gauteng and the coast respectively.
Price changes to be effected on Wednesday 1 April 2015 in Gauteng and at the coast [increase]
Motorists at the coast will now have to fork out R12.46 for a litre of 95 ULP and LRP, or R623 for a 50 litre tank, while at the Reef they will have to pay R12.89 and R12.67 a litre respectively for 95 ULP and LRP.
Chaos as motorists were told that there was no unleaded at a petrol station in Lansdowne, Cape Town, on Tuesday evening. (Photo: Fin24)
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This is how social media reacted:
@Fin24 only garage in Kommetjie ran out a while back - i'm over this petrol cr@p #irritated
— Sarah Jane (@SarahSjd1507) March 31, 2015Just got turned away at 3 garages in the Kenilworth area. No unleaded they say. Fourth time lucky in Crawford, garage...
Posted by Fin24 on Tuesday, 31 March 2015
Filling my car up before the petrol hike at midnight. Filling station packed! This increase is really going to affect everybody.
— CorneKrige (@CorneKrige6) March 31, 2015Petrol going up tonight and we all filling up! R1.65 is a huge increase. pic.twitter.com/kD3FESqRCm
— The Best Thing Ever (@DJ_Sabby) March 31, 2015#PetrolPriceIncrease RT @Reesiebabygirl @TrafficSA I drove from Kuils River to Parow trying to find a station with petrol. All BPs are out
— Rob Byrne (@TrafficSA) March 31, 2015
