The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy’s decision to prohibit South Africans from purchasing petroleum products in portable containers should be supported because it is intended to curb violence and prevent panic buying and hoarding, says the Automobile Association (AA).

WATCH: Journalist Izak du Plessis and Layton Beard talk about the fuel situation in South Africa.

“However, where generators are used to run medical and other essential equipment, the sale of fuel in containers for such machinery should be allowed,” Layton Beard of the AA says.

Acting Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni announced the new regulations on Wednesday (July 14) in the face of fuel shortage fears fanned by transport challenges and the temporary closure of Durban-based South African Petroleum Refineries (Sapref).

On Tuesday, Sapref announced it was declaring force majeure, meaning it was unable to meet contractual obligations as a result of the violence and looting that exploded in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng this week.

The N3 between Gauteng and Durban was targeted and the route closed, causing further concern that the pressure on supply chains would result in an additional shortage of consumer products. This too resulted in panic buying.

“There is, however, no need for panic and stockpiling,” Beard clarifies.

He urged motorists to remember that panic buying of fuel could result in unnecessary shortages which would impact emergency services.

Beard echoed the words of Ntshavheni, who announced on Thursday evening that far fewer incidents of unrest had occurred that day.

“When we look at the current situation in Gauteng and the northern parts of the country, the issue of fuel supply is not as dire as in KwaZulu-Natal, which is very good news,” says Beard.

He says Sapref should be able to determine its way forward by next week.

Once it starts production again, everything should return to normal and flow freely, especially when the N3 is opened as well, says Beard.