MOTORISTS are flocking to petrol stations following what has been described as one of the steepest fuel price hikes in recent times.

Petrol is expected to increase by R3.07 per litre, while diesel will rise by more than R7. This looming increase has triggered a surge in demand, with long queues forming at filling stations as drivers rush to fill their tanks before the new prices take effect on April 1.

A manager at one petrol station in Pinetown said at 15:20 that he had not been in his office since reporting for duty at 06:00 due to the overwhelming demand. Some stations have already run out of fuel, while others have begun limiting the amount customers can purchase.

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“It has been extremely busy. We’ve been working non-stop, and it’s only expected to get worse this evening,” he said.

One motorist explained that although he still had some fuel left, he felt compelled to fill up immediately.

“This will go a long way for me, as I live and work in the New Germany area. After this, I still need to fetch my wife’s car to fill it up as well. She works quite far, so filling up before midnight will help us save,” he said.

The resident added that this is the largest fuel price increase he has experienced since he began driving.

“Petrol usually goes up by about R1 and a few cents,” he noted.

Following the announcement, motorists have been warned to expect significant delays on roads near petrol stations. Authorities caution that sudden stops, merging traffic, and congestion on major routes are likely as queues spill over onto main roads.

Drivers are urged to avoid non-essential travel where possible and to steer clear of routes with multiple filling stations. They are also reminded not to block intersections or driveways while waiting to enter a station.