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Filling up or falling out
16/07/2008 09:53 - (SA)
Chris Roper
Two things happened this morning which gave me subject matter for today's column. The first was the presence of several burly young men, dressed as gay Catholic bishops (well, their robes were pink and lavender, and they were in Green Point, so I just assumed there was some sort of gay satire thing going on), dancing through the traffic and handing out leaflets.
The second was an e-mail in my inbox from reader Lize, which read as follows:
"Hi Chris
"Won't you or any other clever columnist bemoan the fact that South Africans will no longer be able to do the road trip thing?! With fuel stations closing overnight, what will the Gautengers do when they get to Colesberg?!
"Lize"
Now like most columnists, I'm a sucker for a compliment, even if it is an implied one which could in fact be an implied insult, depending how you read it. And also, it turned out that the gay Catholic bishops were in fact marketing people handing out pamphlets extolling the virtues of the Vespa scooter.
The front page featured a picture of the Pope blessing a Vespa, and the words "You don't have to be a member of the clergy to save." Fuel, they mean - I don't think owning a Vespa would actually get anyone into heaven any faster, except maybe someone trying to drive it on a Cape Town highway. And then the chances are pretty even that you might end up in hell.
Now the funny thing is, when I read the headlines about "Petrol stations to close at night", I automatically assumed it was only because of crime. Hey, I'm a South African, so sue me. Turns out it's also an economic measure. It's too expensive to sell petrol at night. Trouble
You know you're in serious trouble when you can't sell petrol. One tends to think of buying fuel as a necessary evil, and one that you have to live with. I won't go over the tedious reasons (rubbish public transport, massive male egos and the like) that cause people of a certain class and income to believe this, as we all know them. But if we're starting to think twice before buying petrol, we must be heading in the right direction.
There are certain cherished institutions we're going to have to learn to do without, though. And as a worried Lize points out, the overnight road trip from Jo'burg might be one of them.
Quite why she feels affection for a long, tedious journey dodging amphetamine-charged trucks, crazed BMW drivers and limping, headlight-less bakkies, is a question beyond the scope of this column. But I can assure her that filling-stations on highways will, I'm sure, stay open at night.
A much more serious institution is what a friend of mine calls the Munch Pumps, which used to be dodgy purveyors of thrice-rewarmed Big Jack pies, but now can be as sophisticated as a Woolworths outlet. What are demented drunken teenagers going to do for food at 03:00 if there are no 24 hour café at service stations? They'll start eating each other, and people are bound to complain.
Another institution that a lot of people will have to give up is, alas, an actual job. I can't see early closing not being twinned with early retirement for a lot of pump attendants. But what strikes me as the oddest thing about this story is the fact that service stations are apparently compelled by oil companies to stay open 24 hours.
This sounds dodgy to me. How can oil companies force people to sell their product 24 hours a day? Aren't they making enough money out of destroying the planet, with our willing help?
I think it might just be time to buy a Vespa. At least they're a company with a sense of humour.
Chris Roper is editor-in-chief of 24.com.
Send your comments to Chris.
Disclaimer: News24 encourages freedom of speech and the expression of diverse views. The views of columnists published on News24 are therefore their own and do not necessarily represent the views of News24. News24 editors reserve the right to edit or delete any and all comments received.
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Time to cycle
16/07/2008 10:02
Great minds think alike, fuels never differ. - Theresa |
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Dreadfuel
16/07/2008 10:07
The greatest fool is the fool that is fooled by fuel. - Theresa |
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I wonder....
16/07/2008 10:09
if there is a problem in the 'pipeline' waiting to burst... I cannot wait for the end result of this so called "closing of sations at night"
REMEMBER,,,,,, before the power crisis, there was some talk of using lesser power, and it turned out that we have a crisis on our hands.
I wonder what crisis lay ahead re the petrol situation. You dont need to be an Einstein to figure when a ludricous suggestion of this sort is posted. What about transporters that drive all day and night to service us??? - navs |
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Close petrol station at night
16/07/2008 10:13
Ask yourself: how often have you put in petrol between 20h00 and 06h00?
As long the stations along the national roads and one in cities stay open, this shuld be ok.
Many small petrol stations in Europe are closed at night - Felix |
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A question?
16/07/2008 10:39
How many times have you filled up at night? Not too many I would assume because of the crime stats. Closing them at night will not change my life. - Metallica Man |
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Another side to the issue.......!
16/07/2008 10:51
The oil companies have been sucking us financially for some time. Is it not time for us, the consumer, to fight back? However, I am of the opinion that with so many attempts before, this is a lost cause, because it will only be effective if we all stand together. What we should do is agree to fill up at local petrol stations (excluding those on national roads), then for a period of a few days not support them at all. Maybe focu on specific brand. It will take a co-ordinated effort. Any takers?? - Matrix |
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Who are the drivers & culprits?
16/07/2008 10:58
From media it is Speculators/rich oil barons & oil producing countries/Gov officials that manipulate/conmen/etc. that make money out of exploiting consumers. What can we do to send them a message that they are hurting us & businesses financially? When will we be able to afford Hydrogen/hybrid/electrical/? vehicles? Never! Why? Because the above parties will then loose out big time. This is the reasin why they would do anything to stop such initiatives. Where are the solution innovators? - Matrix |
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good one
16/07/2008 10:58
Good one Chris - CD boy |
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Close at night
16/07/2008 11:05
What are the oil companies gonna do. sue everyone? Close down if you wan to and fight them in the media if you get trouble. Sure gonna miss the Munch Pumps though. - Nanker Phelge |
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Teresa
16/07/2008 11:09
Hey T, marry me please - you have a true Oscar Wilde streak. - Steve |
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Sinister/ RAF/R500m
16/07/2008 11:13
Is anyone in govt concerned about unemployment, service deliveries, the economy, or is there something very sinister about to hit us, Is all of this has anything to do the RAF paying out R500m to the foreigner, or is the fuel levies about to change or is this a way of telling all garages that we make the law, if you open after hours, PAY govt 15% more!!!!! - navs |
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Another crisis being fueled!!
16/07/2008 11:19
Years and years of underspending on public transport by the government has lead to people becoming totally reliant on their private cars and fuel in particular. Now with the spike in oil prices, we are feeling the brunt. What characterises a great country is its ability to make its citizens life a pleasure. Somehow that notion is not in the ANC's mentality hence it spending billions on naval ships, stadiums and presential jets while its citizens struggle year in, year out. - SA Realist |
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@navs
16/07/2008 11:25
Heh, heh.....referred to as the 3rd force!!! Also, some caders need finance to pay for court cases and to promote their campaigns. Alternatively, some caders have fallen out of favour and need a sustainable pension / income!!! - Matrix |
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@SA Realist, you forgot to mention....
16/07/2008 11:29
R370 Mill for birthday party & private functions @ talk shops for privileged party, rather than spending money on relief efforts of recent flood & cold disasters. Rather let innocent people suffer. Mmmm, maybe one good thing out of this, less killer taxis on the road???? - Matrix |
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Fuel
16/07/2008 11:30
Totally fuelish ! - Mike |
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Steve ;-)
16/07/2008 11:31
Marriage is such a serious consideration. Maybe we should start with a few letters first. Personally, I am quite particular about H. - Theresa |
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Close petrol stations... open the bottle stores 24/7
16/07/2008 11:37
Absolutely right. We seldom need petrol at 2am in the "new" crime-ridden RSA. But will you please start a petition to have bottle stores/cigarette shops open 24/7 ,or I will have to start sniffing petrol!! - IandI |
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Join my Facebook group
16/07/2008 11:58
Go on, you know you want to. Then I can message you every time News24 publishes one of my columns. Which SHOULD be every Wednesday, but hey - sometimes i get distracted.
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=14166469937 - Chris Roper |
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Fuel Stations to Close at night
16/07/2008 12:18
Yes in theory this is a good idea in certain areas that are having a problem with crime. Only for the long distance & main petrol stations to stay open is a brilliant idea but let us consider the people that work their they will have to cut don on employees & what will happen to them like so many other companies that are folding the crime is on the increase. We all need to try & stay positive, it is a worldwide problem. We need to address the ecomomy in SA. To be pro-active & complain less. - Margaret Fogarty |
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Fail to see the reason?
16/07/2008 12:18
What on eath does the petrol price increase now all of a sudden have on the profit of Service Stations? Surely the Retail markup stays the same? - TB |
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RE: Two Wheels
16/07/2008 12:25
Chris, if you are going for a Vespa or any other form of two wheels, get used to these words "Oh My God, I didn't see you". Because if there is one thing that our drivers in South Africa seem to be incapable of seeing, even if you are riding a 650 upwards with HID lights that not even a blind person can miss, it is seeing a two wheeled vehicle. - Lejane |
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About Time
16/07/2008 12:33
Like the cell phone,how did we do without it back in the day,we topped up on a Friday night.Also note that the owners only make about 52cents a liter,could be more.So the GOVT. is milking us big time.Also this will encourage us to buy bread and milk at shops as the service stations rip us off for consumables.I like this idea - Mr.B |
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Mass action
16/07/2008 12:40
We are a country of mass action, why don't all the petrol stations just decide to close at night, what will the oil companies do? Stop supplying to all of them, I don't think so. Who needs petrol during the night? Plan! - BigBang |
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beat the squeeze
16/07/2008 12:46
Oil is a finite commodity and like all other finite commodities it will get more expensive as population spirals. Do the following - buy a place close to work or get another job and cycle, eat locally grown, recycle your trash and stick a solar geyser on your roof. If we all did this we could perhaps buy enough time for clean technology to catch up or for avian flu to get rid enough humans to ease the pressure. Either way its our only chance. - george |
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Closure
16/07/2008 12:47
If for some reason fuel stations would close, at 9pm for instance,believe me that their convenient stores would stay open 24 hrs, as they are the bigger money spinner later at night.Only they can sell a 2lt Coke for R18.99 and get away with it. Closing at night would also mean alot of petrol attendants would lose their jobs. - Camel Man |
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teresa
16/07/2008 12:47
great article - and
teresa please will you consider steve - laverne |
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@ Matrix
16/07/2008 12:49
Boycotting the petrol stations wont hurt the oil companies. You needed to fill up a few days earlier so that you can get through the boycott period with fuel in your tank, so they got your turnover anyway. Boycotting petrol stations hurts the small businessman who is already battling with being forced to stay open at night-night duty wages are higher and they are subjected to crime thus higher insurance etc - DW |
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The only constant is change
16/07/2008 13:15
So what will we all say when (and this will happen) our pump attendants become redundant and we all have to fill up our vehicles? We love to play catchup with "developed" countries haha bring it on - DIY |
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Fuel
16/07/2008 13:25
Well I fill up after 8pm, as the fuel is colder, denser per litre and you get more bang for your buck. Gov should pass a law that all fuel be sold a a set temp say 10degC. - Vader |
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Fuel overnight
16/07/2008 14:00
Having just returned on one of our great overnight treks I find myself filling up on the roadboth going there and coming back so I see no use in keeping the local station open after 20:00 I have never considered(Crime) stopping at the local petrol station to fill up before hitting the road. I grew up on trains and am glad I saw so much of the country that way. Live the adventure try a train. For those long overnight trips. - H |
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@DW, You are correct, but how do we send the ...
16/07/2008 14:03
exploters the message. They dont listen when we scream, they dont note our writings, they discard our actions, etc... Just as a once off exercise, to hurt them where it hurts most. Small business men (myself included) are already suffering. Are we not prpared to byte the bullet for a short term to achieve longer term recognition? We need to combine forces & let them know we mean business!!! Any alternative suggestions? - Matrix |
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just
16/07/2008 14:04
just have 1 petrol and 1 diesel pump that runs of garage cards etc
so you swipe your card and make it self service - jack daniels |
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@DW, continued. Did a little experiment....
16/07/2008 14:08
Took the average income I get, minus normal expences, then calculated extra expences if open outside hours reflected in this article. Worked out that I would save around 15%. Agreed, this scenario is not directly comparable (one issue is location & more), but have any of the small businesses done the analysis??? They may be surprised at results. - Matrix |
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