Zimbabwean motorists flocking into SA to buy fuel

Some Zimbabwean nationals are crossing the Beitbridge border into South Africa to buy fuel. The Zimbabwean government announced a 150% fuel increase last week.

It now costs over R43 to buy a litre of petrol. Zimbabweans buying fuel at a petrol station next to the border say fuel has become too expensive in Zimbabwe.

Some are carrying containers and crossing the border on foot while others are motorists who are filling extra containers.

The influx of people from Zimbabwe coming to South Africa to buy petrol increasing by day. The movement started few days ago when it was becoming clear that the country was running out of fuel.

Some of them traveled from as far as Bulawayo more than 250 kilometres away to come and buy petrol in South Africa.

SABC News talked to Zimbabweans buying petrol near the border who say the situation is tough back home and the only option is to cross into South Africa to get fuel.

"Here it is cheaper my friend. Because look now in Zim, it is equivalent to R40 a litre. Everything is cheaper than in Zim. It's for my personal use, I have a combi – a taxi in Zim. So I know if I pour 50 litres it will take me about a week."

Some are buying to sell in the black market. They had no choice but to take advantage of the situation. " I came here at Beitbridge to buy petrol for my taxi. Fuel is too expensive. It is about 3 US dollars a litre but here it's cheap – it's R14 a litre. It's very scarce on our side, there is no fuel. Sometimes you get long queue. For you to get to the petrol attendant you need more than 3 hours. Sometimes you can get to the queue not knowing when are they going to deliver or if it is going to be delivered."

Florence Moyo is making money from selling empty containers to people who are coming to buy fuel. Moyo says she is expecting business to boom in the next few days.

"I am selling containers because fuel is expensive in Zimbabwe. So people come to buy container and take fuel to Zimbabwe. I sell a 10 litre for R25, 20 litre R40 and this bucket are R30."

If the situation remain unchanged in Zimbabwe more and more people might cross over to South Africa to get fuel.

According to The Zim Association of Doctors for Human Rights, at least 13 people have been wounded after being shot during protests against a shocking fuel price hike in Zimbabwe.

Police fired teargas and apparently used live ammunition to disperse crowds that gathered at Epworth, outside Harare.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa announced a 150% rise in the price of petrol and diesel over the weekend as the country battles its worst fuel shortages in a decade.

Mnangagwa is on a tour of European countries.