When the oil price tanked and most vehicles were gathering dust during the lockdown, Sbonelo Mbatha carried on. The pandemic knocked fuel retailers for a six. Mbatha reminded everyone to spare a thought for South Africa’s 100 000 petrol attendants.
If anyone knows their lot in life it is Sbonelo, a former petrol attendant turned entrepreneur who now owns nine petrol stations and employs 300 people. Sbonelo’s turnover dipped below 50% and 90%, depending on where his stations were located. “The effect of this is huge. I have had to put staff on short time. Some stations are down to two people and I would have closed them but I’m afraid of vandalism. I never in my life imagined I would have to navigate something like this, it has been crazy.”
At the time Sbonelo said negotiations between the government and the Fuel Retailers Association offered to soften the blow, but only marginally. “Most people have got used to working at home and will continue to do so. That means far fewer people visiting us. I’m optimistic by nature and I’ve been lucky.
Things will recover over time, but business is now about keeping your head above the water. Things will never go back to normal. We have to reinvent resilience. The world is going to change. For now, if I can break even, I am happy.”
