Bouquets and brickbats for BP

THOSE brave souls at BP have reportedly invested some R20-million to launch a new portable payment terminal at 450 of its petrol stations. Called "Swipa" (not eSwipa?) the terminals, accept any debit cards, and -- because this is South Africa -- drivers don't even have to get out of their cars to pay. No doubt the system has been introduced to reduce the risk of cash-in-transit robberies that are fast becoming a national sport. Not a great reduction, it must be said, since the convenience stores attached to service stations often make more money than the pumps, but even so, every little helps. Spigot does wonder why there has been a howl of protest from the Fuel Retailers' Association. Didn't BP first check with them how it would go down? Allegations are that the BP Swipa system is illegal in terms of the Department of Minerals and Energy (DME) regulations . Didn't they talk to the DME before the launch? Not that Spigot is complaining. BP deserves a big bouquet for Swipa. It is just a pity that only salesmen seem to have been in on the deal. Isn't this precisely why there are corporate affairs departments?