“I Don’t See the Point”: South Africans Slam Motorists Who Queued To Beat Petrol Hike
- South African motorists queued at a Shell garage in Johannesburg on 31 March, trying to tank up before the April fuel price hike hit
- Petrol went up by R3.06, and diesel jumped by more than R7 a litre, one of the steepest single-month hikes on record in SA
- Critics say drivers who queued will be back at the pump next week, paying full price, so the win was really just for one day
Johannesburg motorists turned a Shell garage into a parking lot on 31 March 2026. They were desperate to tank up before fuel prices shot up at midnight.
Source: Instagram
The long snake of cars was caught on camera by UJ FM sports presenter Thapelo Mhlanga, who shared the clip on Instagram. The clips showed just how far people were willing to go to dodge one of the worst fuel hikes in South Africa’s history.
The hike kicked in on 1 April 2026, and it came swinging. Petrol went up by R3.06 a litre across all grades. Diesel jumped by between R7.37 and R7.51, depending on the grade. And paraffin, the fuel that millions of poor households use daily, went up by R11.67 a litre. The numbers hit like a fist to the stomach, and South Africans felt, or are still to feel, every cent.
A tank that will run out anyway
The queues made sense on an emotional level. Nobody wants to pay more when they know something cheaper is still available. But the hard truth is that filling up the night before only delays the pain. The tank runs dry eventually, and every driver who queued will be back at that same pump, paying the new price, just like everyone who did not bother to queue. The savings were real for one day and one day only.
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South Africans online were quick to point that out. Many called the queuing pointless, saying the same money was coming out of people’s pockets either way. A full tank on Monday night saves a motorist a once-off amount, but nothing more. The next refill happens at the new price. No escape, just a short delay.
See the long queue in the Instagram clip below
Mzansi reacts to the video
Briefly News compiled some comments from the post below.
@real_faucet_rsa commented:
“Paying R7 extra in a taxi will always beat paying R7,000 monthly instalments for 72 months plus R1,000 full tank every fortnight, not to mention service fees, maintenance and insurance. 🫠”
@skhokho_saamy said:
“What's wrong with people? You will still pay that high price of petrol on Monday. 😂”
@marcustyronerobertson_ wrote:
“I don’t see the point, as if the full tank is going to last the whole month. Petrol is R23, so you’re basically getting a litre less for every R100 than you used to. You’re basically just losing R100 if you think about it. I’m just glad I’m not diesel. 🤣”
@petrol.ed noted:
“Hear me out. Isn’t this pointless because next week/month you’ll be paying the same price, if not more?
@majorrr_one commented:
“Rand manipulation tactics. Guys, calm down.😭. You have been paying R25/26 for petrol. R28 is nothing. 🥲✋🏾”
Source: Instagram
More articles involving the fuel hike
- Motorists across South Africa are rushing to fill up before the April 2 increase, triggering long queues, rising frustration, and fears of worsening shortages.
- A routine petrol stop turned confusing after unexpected limits were introduced, leaving one driver questioning what was really happening.
- From 4 March 2026, petrol and diesel prices will rise, with diesel increasing by up to 65 cents per litre, driven by global oil price pressures.
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Source: Briefly News
