Kindness at the pump replaces April Fools' pranks
A Pretoria community radio station turned April Fools' Day on its head this week, swapping practical jokes for practical generosity by filling the fuel tanks of unsuspecting motorists at a Waverley petrol station. GROOTfm 90.5, through its breakfast show Die GROOT Ontbyt, launched what it called the April FUEL campaign — a initiative designed to ease the burden of rising fuel costs on ordinary South Africans.
The surprise kicked off shortly after 06:00 on Wednesday, with the station's radio team stationed at the TotalEnergies filling station in Waverley. Motorists pulled in expecting to pay for modest amounts of petrol — some as little as R100, others stretching to R300 — often the absolute limit of their household budgets. What happened next left many in tears.
Presenters Venita Engelbrecht and Charonike Nel approached drivers with a startling announcement: the R100 fuel option was no longer available — because the team intended to fill their tanks to the brim. In moments, a R100 purchase transformed into R900 worth of fuel, and powerful scenes of raw emotion followed as motorists struggled to process the unexpected gift.
"Instead of jokes, the focus shifted to kindness, generosity and a real impact," says Sonet Stofberg, project manager at GROOTfm.
One recipient, a woman named Annemarie, had borrowed R100 from a friend solely to deliver bread to a care centre in Eersterust. When the team not only returned her R100 but filled her entire tank, she was overcome with disbelief. She initially protested, saying she could not afford it and that her Sassa grant was only due the following day. Thanks to the gesture, her vehicle had not carried a full tank in a very long time. Another motorist, Thulani, stood staring at the fuel gauge in astonishment after requesting just R100 of petrol for his 55-litre tank, only to watch it climb to full. By the end of the morning, 19 motorists had received complimentary full tanks, totalling more than R16 000 in fuel.
Stories of running on empty inspired the campaign
The initiative was born from listener engagement the previous day, when the breakfast programme invited audiences to share their own tales of being stranded without fuel. The response was both humorous and deeply relatable. Manie Ferreira recounted how, as a student, he ran dry just a single block from his residence. A resourceful friend fetched his own vehicle, and two companions perched on either side of its bonnet, pressing their feet against the stricken car's boot to push it home. Gerrie Agenbag, meanwhile, recalled a motorcycle trip to the Sutherland area for stargazing. So captivated were the riders by the night sky that nobody noticed the fuel running dangerously low. They aimed for Matjiesfontein, only to discover the town had no fuel available. Crawling at 40 km/h, the group limped into Laingsburg, arriving at a petrol station completely empty — much to the amusement of the attendants. It was the fullest Gerrie's motorbike had ever been after that fill-up.
Drawing on these heartfelt submissions, an internal panel selected four listeners to each receive R1 000 in fuel assistance. Each winner was surprised with a WhatsApp video call broadcast live during the programme.
"We experienced first hand how He makes the buns and fish more. Since it is also currently celebrating the build-up to the greatest moment of victory in our faith history — where God the Father conquered death for our salvation — this gesture only made sense. To share his goodness and good news on the platforms he has entrusted to us," says Stofberg.
With the Easter period approaching, Stofberg expressed hope that the campaign would inspire a wider spirit of generosity across communities grappling with the financial pressures of fuel price hikes.
"May each of us be constantly so aware of the Lord's good news, that we are continuously part of someone else's good news!"
South African households increasingly stretch limited budgets to cover rising fuel costs, making initiatives like GROOTfm's April FUEL campaign a reflection of broader economic strain felt at the pump nationwide. The R16 000 distributed across 19 motorists highlights how even modest relief can transform daily logistics for grant recipients and community workers alike. Such grassroots efforts may encourage other businesses and organisations to explore similar fuel assistance programmes, particularly as pump prices continue pressuring household transport spending.
