Fuel rationing: How much petrol can you actually store at home?

2026-03-27 - 10:50

With just a few days left before South Africans face a massive record fuel price hike, the thought of storing fuel in large quantities has crossed the minds of many motorists hoping to mitigate the short-term pain of paying more for petrol. The latest data from the Central Energy Fund (CEF) shows that motorists could be paying more than R10 per litre for diesel, marking the first time in the country’s history. According to the CEF’s data, the under-recovery in petrol prices has now reached between R5.24 and R5.76 per litre, while diesel has soared to about R9.86 and R10.00 per litre. Residential storage regulations Storage at a private residence is primarily governed by municipal by-laws, which can vary slightly by province or city. General standards across major metros (like Gauteng or Western Cape) typically include: Without a Permit: Most municipalities allow residents to store up to 200 litres (roughly one standard drum) of flammable liquid without a special permit, provided it is stored safely in a well-ventilated area. Safety Requirements: Containers must be SABS-approved and stored away from ignition sources or exits. Exceeding Limits: To store more than the exempt amount, you must apply for a Flammable Liquid Certificate from your local Fire and Emergency Services. Storage by metro Johannesburg In Joburg, the following exemptions apply: Class I liquids that have a closed-cap flash point of below 38°C, with a total maximum of 40 litres. Class II Liquids that have a closed-cap flash point of 38°C or above, but below 60.5°CTotal quantity of Class II and Class III A together may not exceed the maximum quantity of 210 litres Class III Liquids that have a closed-cap flash point of 60.5°C or above but below 93°C Tshwane According to the City of Tshwane municipal fire safety guidelines, individuals may not store flammable liquids in excess of the following quantities on residential or unregistered premises without a Certificate of Registration from the Chief Fire Officer: Class I Liquids (e.g., Petrol): Maximum 200 Litres. Classes II & III Liquids (e.g., Diesel/Paraffin): Maximum 400 Litres. Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG): Maximum 48 kg Cape Town The City of Cape Town’s Community Fire Safety By-law stipulates that no person can store more than 100kg of flammable gas and 200 litres of flammable liquid. eThekwini The eThekwini Municipality has a similar restriction, with citizens able to store 210 litres of petrol and 500 litres of diesel, and up to 100kg of gas without a Flammable Substance Certificate. This would be equal to two 19kg gas cylinders Ekurhuleni In Ekurhuleni, the personal storage of fuel is strictly regulated by the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality Emergency Services By-laws to prevent fire hazards and ensure public safety. Storing fuel in private residences beyond specific limits requires a Certificate of Registration from the Chief Fire Officer. Class I Flammable Liquids (e.g., Petrol): Up to 100 Litres. Class II Flammable Liquids (e.g., Diesel/Paraffin): Up to 420 Litres. Class III Flammable Liquids (e.g., Heavy Diesel/Oil): Up to 1 100 Litres. ALSO READ: Fuel price hike: Can you work from home? Exemptions According to Sections 7.4.2 and 7.4.3 of the National Road Traffic Act, there are exemptions related to the transport of gases and liquid fuels. “Fuel contained in tanks of a vehicle performing a transport operation and intended for the operation of any of its equipment, with the following restrictions: When contained in tanks permanently connected to the vehicle’s engine or auxiliary equipment (or both), it shall not exceed the quantities specified in Table 2; and When contained in portable fuel containers (such as Jerricans), a maximum of 60 L may be carried per vehicle, or combination of vehicles. Transport Unit Maximum Quantity (Litres) Drawing vehicle 1 500 Combination 1 500 Trailer 500 Fuel in tanks According to the act, fuel contained in the tanks of vehicles or of other means of conveyance (such as boats), which are carried as a load, where it is destined for their propulsion or the operation of any of their fuel cocks between the engine or equipment and the fuel tank shall be closed during carriage unless it is essential for the equipment to remain operational. “The load shall be loaded upright and secured against falling, and the goods shall be moved between adjacent premises, not more than 1 km.” Regulations In 2021, the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy clarified regulations prohibiting the storage of petrol and diesel in containers. “The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy has considered the concerns it has received from the valid use of containers to purchase petrol and diesel for various reasons. Against this backdrop, the department has reviewed the Regulations gazetted on 16 July 2021, with the intention of clarifying what is referred to as a “container”. “For the purposes of these Regulations, a ‘Container’ refers to an object that is not approved for the holding or transporting of petrol and diesel according to the relevant South African National Standards (SANS). An amendment that contains the revised definition will be issued and gazetted soon,” it said. By-laws In South Africa, the storage of fuel for personal use is regulated by national transport laws and local municipal by-laws rather than a single per-province volume limit. Regulations distinguish between what you can transport in a vehicle and what you can store on your property. However, according to the South African Municipal bylaws, no authorisation is required for certain motor vehicle fuel tanks “No certificate of registration contemplated in section 35 or any other authorisation contemplated in these by-laws is required in respect of flammable liquids in a fuel tank – (a) of any motor vehicle; and (b) of any stationery engine if the volume of the fuel tank does not exceed 1 000 litres.” Provincial fuel landscape While storage limits for individuals are relatively uniform, the availability and consumption of fuel vary significantly by province according to the Department of Minerals, Resources and Energy. Gauteng The highest consumer, accounting for roughly 36% of petrol and 24.5% of diesel nationally. KwaZulu-Natal & Western Cape Follow as the next largest hubs, each consuming approximately 15-18% of the national total. Northern Cape Consistently ranks last in total fuel usage. Province Petrol consumption share Diesel consumption share Gauteng ~36% ~24.5% KwaZulu-Natal ~15.7% ~18.7% Western Cape ~15.6% ~16.6% Other provinces <10% each <10% each Feeling the pinch Meanwhile, as South Africans brace for a massive looming petrol price hike, residents in the Cape Peninsula are already feeling the pinch. The United States and Israel’s war in Iran has ignited global panic, with the conflict expected to severely impact fuel prices and supply and businesses across the Garden Route, Klein Karoo and Hessequa. Reports of rationing at Garden Route service stations and delayed diesel deliveries have raised concern, particularly within the agricultural sector at a critical time in the farming calendar. An image circulating shows fuel pumps carrying signs reading, “Due to current economic and supply constraints, fuel will be limited to 50L of diesel per vehicle/customer per day. No fuel is to be dispensed into containers.” How much you may pay When the fuel price kicks in on 1 April, the price will also include a 21-cent-per-litre tax hike. Octane Current price Increase New price incl. R0.21 Cents Tax hike 93 Petrol R20.19 R5.24 R25.64 95 Petrol R20.30 R5.76 R26.27 Diesel 0.05% R18.53 R9.86 R28.60 Diesel 0.005% R18.60 R10.00 R28.81 Illuminating paraffin R12.54 R11.46 R24.00 (No tax) ALSO READ: Government reveals its fuel plans as SA braces for record petrol and diesel hikes