70 fuel stations put on notice for selling 'fake diesel'
The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy has revealed that 70 petrol stations in South Africa were found to have been selling contaminated diesel between April and December 2023.
The diesel is allegedly mixed with illuminated paraffin.
According to the department, this practice had tax evasion implications, as paraffin has no tax.
Spokesperson Robert Maake has called on petrol stations to stop buying cheap diesel from suppliers and selling it to unsuspecting motorists.
"Between April and December las year, we found that there is at least 70 petrol stations that were selling diesel that seems to be contaminated with paraffin.
"This number was extremely high, and it became a concern for us. We then decided to make the public aware of these findings.
"Five of these petrol stations were in Gauteng, 15 in Limpopo, 12 in the North West, nine were found in Mpumalanga, four in the Free State and Western Cape, and only one store was found in Eastern Cape".
Maake says the department will take necessary steps against the affected petrol stations.
"In accordance with our regulations regarding petroleum product specifications and standard, the department issues a non-compliant notice.
"We give these stations 14 days to remedy the situation, if they do not respond after 14 days, we give them a final notice. If they continue to not listen to the department we start the process to cancel your license".
Maake urges motorists to be vigilant when filling up their tanks.
"As a motorist when you go to a service station, and you find that the price of diesel is too good to be true, then you must be suspicious.”
Meanwhile, the Automobile Association(AA) last week, warned South African motorists of a possible increase in the prices of all grades of fuel in February.
Motorists can expect a slight increase of around 11 cents per litre for ULP95, 14c/l for ULP93, and 9c for diesel.
While Illuminating paraffin is showing a slight decrease of around 3c per litre.
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