The panel probing fuel shortages experienced late last year will soon call for public input into its inquiry, chairperson Marumo Moerane said on Tuesday.
Moerane met the SA Petroleum Industry Association (Sapia) board of governors on Tuesday to outline the process that would be followed during the investigation.
In a statement afterwards, he said a notice would be published in the Government Gazette and print media calling for input.
It would ask people with information relevant to the panel’s terms of reference to make submissions by February 21.
”The process would be a co-operative one, and not adversarial,” Moerane said.
”What would be paramount to the enquiry are the interests of the country as a whole, inclusive of government, industry and the consuming public.”
The investigation would be carried out as soon as possible with minimum formality, but without compromising the quality of the end product.
The panel would seek to conclude its probe by the end of March, Moerane said.
Sapia welcomed the investigation and indicated its willingness to fully co-operate.
South Africa’s motoring public was caught off guard when filling stations around the country suddenly ran dry as the Christmas holiday period got under way in December last year.
The petrol and diesel shortages followed refinery shutdowns to prepare for the production of cleaner fuels from January 1 this year.
However, Sapia said at the time there was no fuel shortage as such, but rather a problem with getting stocks to the pumps.
The problem was exacerbated when motorists swamped filling stations in a panic to fill their tanks, whether they needed to or not.
Despite the shortage having been resolved well before Christmas, Minerals and Energy Minister Lindiwe Hendricks announced the matter would be investigated to prevent a recurrence. – Sapa