They Worked for It. So Why Aren’t They Getting It?

"They don't give it to us."

That was the response one driver got after asking a petrol attendant why he couldn't add a tip to his card payment.

The message landed in my inbox this week from Faizel Mahomed. He went on to say, "I filled up and told him to round up the payment as a small tip. He declined. He said they don't give it to them. That's not acceptable. That's theft from vulnerable workers desperate just to have a job. Should I take this on? I think I want to!"

Sadly, stories like this aren't rare and shouldn't go unheard.

South Africa has thousands of petrol stations, and unfortunately, a lack of tip transparency is still common at many of them. Tips added to card payments are often not passed on, with no system in place for oversight.

But there's also a growing shift, and we want to celebrate that. We've seen a movement begin to take hold, and stations are stepping up.

Some actively encourage digital tipping, others incentivise their staff, and many open up conversations around fairness and dignity at work.

Sasol is a leader in this space. Through our work together, we're helping ensure that every tip and every "thank you" goes to the person who earned it. It's about creating a standard that restores trust, accountability, and respect for service.

This isn't about blame but rather about building better systems, ones where workers aren't left out in the cold.

If you've experienced something similar, speak up. These stories matter, and they're already shaping change.

-Kimlynn Temple-tipped Founder and CEO 2025