Department Clarifies: Working from Home Not Official Fuel Policy

The Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources has set the record straight on working from home remarks. Director Robert Maake suggested it during a workshop on fuel pricing. This came amid media reports linking it to rising fuel costs. South Africans facing fuel price hikes and cost-of-living pressures are affected. The clarification matters now as fuel pricing discussions continue, according to a statement on March 26, 2026, via SAnews.gov.za.

The department’s statement confirms key facts. Robert Maake, Director of the Fuel Pricing Mechanism, made the remarks. They responded to a question from the floor at a workshop on fuel pricing mechanisms.

The department says working from home was just one example. It was among several options to cut transport costs. This was not an official policy or directive.

SAnews.gov.za reported the department’s full statement on these points.

Media reports took the remarks out of context. They presented them as a government policy proposal. The workshop focused on fuel pricing mechanisms.

The department clarified this point. “It is therefore incorrect to report or interpret the response given during the workshop as an official position or policy proposal of the department or government,” it stated, per SAnews.gov.za.

The response stayed within the workshop discussion. It was not a formal recommendation.

This clarification has clear implications. The remarks do not reflect government policy. They were a personal example in conversation.

Government focuses on bigger issues. It engages on fuel supply, pricing, and cost-of-living pressures for South Africans.

The department noted: “Government continues to engage on matters relating to fuel supply, fuel pricing and the broader cost-of-living pressures affecting South Africans. Any policy positions or decisions will be communicated through the appropriate official channels.” This comes from SAnews.gov.za.

Near-term steps remain straightforward. The department assures ongoing work on these topics. Policy updates will come via official channels.

No speculation exists on changes. The statement sticks to verified engagement plans.

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