New calls for motorists to work from home in South Africa

South Africa was hit with substantial petrol and diesel price increases this April, and the Central Energy Fund predicts that motorists will experience similar hikes next month.

In light of this, several industry stakeholders and energy experts have come forth with suggestions to reduce the financial strain on households and businesses.

This includes the International Energy Agency (IEA), which recommended that countries worldwide, including South Africa, adopt policies to conserve fuel until the global fuel crisis subsides.

First and foremost, the IEA suggested that motorists work from home whenever possible.

This would be beneficial on multiple levels, as individuals who work from home will save a significant amount of fuel and time by reducing or even eliminating their daily commute.

Furthermore, this would result in fewer cars on the road, leading to less congestion and a better fuel economy for private and commercial vehicles that still need to be on the roads.

The IEA estimates that three remote workdays for employees whose jobs allow it could reduce national fuel usage by 2% to 6%, and that individuals can benefit from a 20% decrease in fuel spending.

The second proposal put forth by the agency is to temporarily reduce speed limits on highwas by 10km/h.

It argues that lowering the speed limit in this manner can improve private vehicle fuel efficiency by 5% to 10%.

Even though commercial trucks typically maintain a lower speed on national roads, they would still save around 5% more on diesel, according to the agency.

The IEA’s third and final point of advice is to encourage motorists to carpool where possible.

In its report, the agency noted that carpooling increases car occupancy and thereby relieves road congestion, improving travel times and fuel efficiency.

“When combined with eco-driving measures, including checking tyre pressure, adjusting air conditioning settings, and efficient driving practices, fuel demand for cars can be reduced by around 5% to 8%,” it said.

More extreme measures to reduce the number of cars on the roads include limiting access for private cars in large cities and a renewed emphasis on public transport.

Not the first time South Africa has implemented strict fuel-saving measures

While the IEA’s proposals are generalized and not directed at any one country, the head of Personal Lines Underwriting at Santam, Marius Kemp, said that many are applicable in South Africa.

Some of the agency’s measures, such as the lower speed limit, have even been used in the past.

During the 1973 Yom Kippur war and oil crisis, South Africa restricted freeway speeds to 80km/h to reduce motorists’ average fuel consumption.

The current government has also been trying for years to try to reduce the country’s speed limits by 10km/h across the board to improve road safety.

However, it’s important to note that the government has made no indication that it is currently thinking of reducing speed limits to improve fuel efficiency.

Kemp said that the IEA’s carpooling suggestion is a far more reasonable solution that would ease pressure on fuel stocks while helping motorists to split the cost of travel.

All of this is also in the context of a post-pandemic world where many citizens are now familiar with the idea of working from home.

While many businesses have slashed their work-from-home policies to get employees back to the office, the ongoing fuel crisis may justify a return to extended remote working periods.

The South African government has already raised the idea of businesses allowing more people to work from home to combat the recent petrol and diesel hikes, but this is more of a suggestion than an official policy stance.

Instead, the government decided to intervene more directly at the end of March, temporarily slashing the General Fuel Levy by R3 per litre to reduce the massive petrol and diesel hikes that kicked in on 1 April 2026.

This fuel tax break is temporary, though, as it will expire at the start of May unless the government decides to extend the relief measure.

The government also stated that it is working on Phase 2 of its consumer relief plan to combat rising fuel prices, though it has yet to reveal what this will involve.