No relief at the fuel pumps yet, hoarding warning remains in effect

South African Insurance Association says municipalities allow only up to 25 litres of fuel to be stored at home.

April 11, 2026

Prashalan Govender 2 minutes read

Experts say it's too early for motorists to expect relief at the pumps Photo: Supplied

Analysts have warned against both expecting relief at the pumps and hoarding fuel as the conflict in the Middle East keeps consumers on edge, reports The Witness.

Before recent record price hikes took effect, motorists across the country queued at petrol stations to fill up, with many outlets reporting that, although national fuel supply remained adequate, pumps were running dry as some consumers stockpiled.

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The South African Insurance Association (SAIA) said storing fuel at home is hazardous and creates an insurance risk, The Citizen reported.

SAIA technical expert Mosidi Shomang said municipalities allow only up to 25 litres of fuel to be stored at home.

She warned that exceeding the limit is against regulations and could have serious consequences.

Shomang added that insurers may reject claims if losses result from illegal or non-compliant fuel storage.

Motor Industry Staff Association (Misa) spokesperson Sonja Carstens said she was concerned by the number of South Africans expecting relief at the pumps owing to the two-week ceasefire.

“The truce has only just begun, so we cannot be hoping for a turnaround in the fuel prices so soon,” she said.

Carstens said the association was increasingly concerned about the fuel situation in South Africa as the government’s reduction of the fuel levy is expected to end on 5 May.

“In a country like ours, with high unemployment, low wages and sluggish economic growth, South Africans simply cannot afford rapid price hikes to basic expenses like fuel,” she said.

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According to the latest data from the Central Energy Fund, petrol could increase by over R3 per litre, while diesel could increase by over R11 per litre next month.

As with last month’s prices, the outlook will change as the month progresses, and the official prices for May can be announced only by the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources at the end of April.

On Tuesday, oil prices fell sharply after US President Donald Trump announced a two-week truce, raising expectations that key energy shipping routes — including the Strait of Hormuz — would reopen.

However, the increasingly fragile truce has prompted prices to tick upwards again.

Hours after the truce, Israel launched a wave of strikes on Lebanon, prompting Tehran to warn that continued attacks risked undermining the agreement and escalating tensions.

The warning led to reports that Iran would keep the Strait of Hormuz closed, renewing fears of a lengthy disruption to energy supplies and pushing prices up again.

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