LISTEN: WhatsApp voice note warning of filling station shutdown debunked

THE message widely shared on WhatsApp claiming that filling stations are to be closed on Friday and perhaps the whole weekend, has been debunked by two fuel company head offices, and an action group which has in the past promoted protests against recent increases in fuel prices.

A spokesperson for Engen’s South African head office, Gavin Smith said on Wednesday that while he and the company have been made aware of the voice note which was “circulating quite widely,” he, speaking for Engen Oil said, “There is no truth in them (rumours) at all.”

Asked what, if anything the company’s stance might be towards anyone who did embark on such a move he said he wasn’t in any position to even speak on such a matter, and there was nothing indicating expected action by any unions representing fuel workers.

ALSO READ: DA leader calls for drop in fuel price

Nelisiwe Masina, spokesperson for BP South Africa was not aware of the voice note herself, but did confirm that nothing about a shutdown of filling stations had come across her desk in the past few days.

She indicated that she would answer questions officially once she had been able to find out more and the Highway Mail is awaiting a response to our emailed questions.

Debbie Clark, of the Hillcrest BP on Old Main Road said she, too, had heard and seen the messages being sent via WhatsApp.

“It is news to us,” she said in response adding that she was amazed that some of the people who were being sent the message were receiving it from their own company’s official message groups.

“I had a customer here who had received it as a warning,” she exclaimed while confirming that the station on Old Main Road would be open.

The Highway Mail is waiting for a response from the Fuel Retailers Association (FRA) to its questions about this matter.

Paul Jenkins who has been interviewed on local radio stations in Durban, on Wednesday confirmed that the recent Whatsapp voice note, which is in the possession of the Highway Mail, does not come from the organisation known as Fuel Prices Must Fall (#FPMF). #FPMF has distanced itself from the group known as PAPPI.

ALSO READ: Police threaten to arrest illegal #FuelPricesMustFall protesters

Jenkins released a voice note himself, also in the possession of the Highway Mail, in which he, as the founder of the movement, said his group has “absolutely nothing to do with the issue on the Friday”.

Readers responses
Highway Mail readers seemed unfazed by the prospect of there being a shutdown, regardless of the fact that it has been widely disputed.
Wendy Riddell, posting on the Highway Mail Facebook page on Thursday said: “Lol welcome back to the 70s when all garages closed at 6.00 pm and reopened at 6.00 am. And 6.00 pm Friday to 6.00 am Monday. How many remember that? AND we survived”, while Felicity Van Staden had this to say: “We also had family time when the shops closed at 1 on a Saturday and re-opened on Monday… Yay.”

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