A filling station in Johannesburg allegedly mixing fuel with paraffin has been exposed and has since been ordered to stop selling the dangerous fuel under the BP branding by the Johannesburg High Court.
The findings come after BP approached the courts to stop Boy 50 (Pty) Ltd, a business that sold the extremely hazardous petrol concoction at their Booysens fuel site.
During the court proceedings, Judge Stuart David James Wilson, who presided over the matter, agreed with BP’s experts who testified that the blended fuel sold at the Booyens filling station posed danger to motorists as the blended fuel is extremely dangerous for use in vehicles.
“The petrol station, or any of the cars that fill up at it, are at real and continuing risk of exploding if the hazardous fuel ignites at the wrong time.
“Allowing dangerous fuel to be sold under their name or on their property that could cause death, or severe damage is harmful enough,” said Wilson.
Wilson further ordered that BP officials were allowed access to the location and the removal of any signage or other materials that suggested the petrol station was operated by BP.
The practice of petrol or fuel alteration by unscrupulous filling stations attempting to get “more mileage” from consumers, comes as fuel prices continue to skyrocket.
Gauteng SANTACO has welcomed the Court ruling, saying that it sends a good warning to others who are using this potentially lethal practice. Even more worrisome, the practice of blending fuels not only jeopardises the safety of vehicle engines, but also constitutes illegal and fraudulent activity that exploits consumers financially and also amounts to tax invasion.
“We are disappointed that some of the filling stations that we have been supporting has been mixing paraffin with petrol. We welcome Court decision and BP action to expose this dangerous practice,” said Gauteng SANTACO chairperson Midday Mali.
Mali challenged Department of Mineral Resources and Petroleum to conduct filling stations nationwide raids to expose cheats and issue heavy penalties to bring to an end this illegal and dangerous practice.
“Government in particular the Department of Mineral Resources & Petroleum must unleash their inspectors to conduct inspections of filling stations and issue heavy fines including revoking their license if found in this illegal act. We also urge the government to publicly list the names of wrong doers so that taxi drivers don’t fill up at fuel stations,” he advised.
