TLU SA het reeds navrae aan die relevante besluitnemers, asook verskeie politieke partye, gerig rakende ‘n nuwe regulasie wat die verkoop van brandstof in houers verbied.
Dié regulasie is op die departement van minerale en energie se webwerf bevestig. Wanneer die regulasie in die Staatskoerant gepubliseer word, sal die verkope en verspreiding van petrol en diesel in ‘n houer – enige voorwerp om petroleumprodukte te hou of te vervoer, afgesien van ‘n voertuig – verbode wees.
“Ons verstaan dat die besluit geneem is om te verseker dat daar nie ‘n tekort aan brandstof ontstaan tydens die onrus in die land nie,” sê mnr. Henry Geldenhuys, die president van TLU SA. “Maar dié besluit is kortsigtig en het veral ‘n invloed op landbouers. Boere moet brandstof in houers kan aankoop om die plase aan die gang te hou. Ons gebruik nie meer perde en osse om ons take te verrig nie, maar motorfietse en trekkers. Dit gebruik brandstof. Ons het ook brandstof nodig vir opwekkers en pompe.
"Bowenal is dit ook nou die brandseisoen en het ons diesel nodig om brande te blus. Dus is die regulasie heeltemal onprakties.”
TLU SA stel voor dat die permitte wat boere tydens die vlak-4 inperking gebruik om noodsaaklike dienste te verrig, ook gebruik mag word vir landbouers om brandstof in houers aan te koop. TLU SA wag op terugvoer en sal lede op hoogte hou van die situasie.
TLU SA offers solution about fuel containers to roleplayers
TLU SA already queried the relevant decision-makers and various political parties about a new regulation prohibiting the sale of fuel in containers.
The department of mineral resources and energy confirmed the regulation on its website. After publication in the Government Gazette, the sale and dispensing of petrol and diesel in portable containers – anything other than a vehicle – will be prohibited.
“We understand the department decided to enforce this regulation to prevent a shortage in fuel during the unrest in the country,” says Mr Henry Geldenhuys, the president of TLU SA. “But the decision is shortsighted and affects farmers explicitly. Farmers must be able to buy fuel in portable containers to keep their farms running. We don’t use horses and oxen to complete our tasks these days but depend on motorcycles and tractors. That uses fuel. We also need fuel for our generators and pumps.
“On top of that, we are in the fire season and need diesel to fight fires. So the regulation is not practical.”
TLU SA suggests that farmers be allowed to use their permits to deliver essential services during alert level 4 of the lockdown to buy fuel in portable containers. TLU SA will wait on feedback and will keep members up to date with the situation.
