The fear of countrywide fuel shortages may not be completely unfounded.
This is the conclusion that can be drawn from the restrictions that both wholesalers and retailers have placed on individual fuel purchases.
It means that although the high price of fuel may be a pressing problem, it may not be the biggest – not as big as the availability of fuel.
Food security could also be jeopardised, because it is currently planting time in the summer-sowing areas.
Although plant breeders have developed special maize cultivars that significantly extend the planting season, there are still some limitations.
Diesel shortages in November and December could create backlogs that may not be caught up in this growing season.
Seeing as both agriculture and the generation of electricity depend on diesel, shortages could result in the two being weighed up against each another.
It begs the question: Load shedding now, or food shortages later?
Thus far, petrol sales are predominantly being restricted. It may cause inconvenience, but is less likely to jeopardise food security.
While government should have launched a strategy to upgrade the ageing refinery facilities decades ago, it opted to rely more heavily on imports instead. And now it appears that this policy was short sighted.
The agricultural sector will be forced to adapt its processing practices to the lower availability of diesel.
Precision and conservation practices, which have thus far only been implemented for the sake of ecological considerations or savings, could become the key to survival.
In addition, this could provide a boost for the development of hydrogen-powered heavy vehicle transport as a way to utilise renewable energy in the transport industry.
Energy is increasingly becoming a cornerstone of the economy, and citizens themselves must take responsibility for it.
A failed state may create opportunities for disorder, but also for a new order to emerge. Which one it will be depends on the choices of ordinary people.
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