Imminent fuel price surge triggers panic buying

South Africans are bracing for a sharp increase in fuel prices in the coming days, with early diesel hikes already triggering panic buying and anxiety about how households will cope.

Motorists are weighing drastic changes to cut costs, from carpooling and working from home to cycling, as concerns mount about the impact on monthly budgets.

An engineer and technical car expert, Nicol Louw, said the public reaction mirrors past panic-driven behaviour.

“We remember toilet paper during COVID. The same kind of thing is happening now… we’re all keeping our wallets close to us at this stage,” he said.

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While petrol prices are regulated, diesel prices are not, leading to sharp increases at some filling stations.

Reports of diesel jumping from around R21 to as high as R35 per litre at certain stations have added to fears, particularly for drivers of diesel vehicles and transport operators.

The variability in diesel pricing means motorists could pay significantly different amounts depending on where they fill up.

Pressure on households and travel plans

With a long weekend approaching, many South Africans are reconsidering travel plans as fuel costs surge.

The looming increases are also forcing commuters to rethink daily habits, including short trips that add up over time.

“The power of not driving… if you can save on those trips, you already save fuel,” Louw said.

Driving behaviour key to saving fuel

Experts say driving style has a major impact on fuel consumption, with aggressive acceleration and braking significantly increasing costs.

“The harder you accelerate, the more fuel you will use… and hard braking is the same thing,” Louw said.

Maintaining a constant speed and avoiding stop-start driving can help reduce fuel use, especially in heavy traffic.

He added that reducing vehicle weight and removing roof racks or unnecessary items can also lower fuel consumption.

Slowing down could cut costs and save lives

Calls are also growing for motorists to reduce speed, with potential savings of up to 30% in fuel consumption by dropping from 120km/h to 100km/h.

Former Western Cape emergency services head Dr Cleeve Robertson said lower speeds could also reduce road deaths.

“The higher your speed, the greater the energy transmitted… so if you can reduce the speed, you reduce the level of injury and fatalities,” he said.

He suggested motorists consider driving at around 90km/h over busy periods like the Easter weekend.

A dual pressure: cost of living and road safety

With fuel prices climbing and no relief in sight, South Africans face a dual challenge: managing rising transport costs while staying safe on increasingly busy roads.

The coming weeks are expected to test household budgets, with fuel costs feeding into broader cost-of-living pressures.

For more details, listen to Louw and Robertson on CapeTalk’s Good Morning Cape Town with Lester Kiewit using the audio player below: