- Petrol and diesel fuel ran dry across most service stations in Rehoboth on Tuesday as residents rushed to fill up ahead of a fuel price hike that took effect yesterday.

By yesterday afternoon, only two of the five Rehoboth fuel stations still had fuel available for consumers.

So desperate is the situation that most service stations here are now rationing fuel to ensure equitable distribution.

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With only five service stations serving Rehoboth, pressure quickly mounted as commuters and motorists from outside town joined residents in the rush. At Puma Service Station, supervisor Morne Bezuidenhoudt said fuel sales started at 05h49 and continued all morning, with demand far exceeding normal levels.

Reho Service Station owner Atneel Benade said the queues had been building since 18h00 the previous day.

Councillor Edward Wambo of Rehoboth Urban East spoke to New Era while filling up his vehicle, describing the situation as unique and never seen in Rehoboth. "I wouldn't call it a crisis, but there was panic. Many residents, including myself, came to fill up vehicles," he said.

Authorities urged the public to avoid panic buying and hoarding fuel, warning of safety risks and discouraging illegal fuel reselling. They maintained that Namibia's fuel stocks remain adequate. Government has moved to cushion consumers by temporarily reducing fuel levies by 50% until the end of June, with interventions estimated at N$500 million, while the National Energy Fund continues efforts to stabilise fuel price volatility.

Despite these measures, prices increased, with petrol rising by N$2.50 per litre and diesel by N$4 per litre, putting extra pressure on households and businesses.

Late yesterday afternoon, follow-up calls to the town's service stations confirmed that fuel had largely been depleted.