Cape Town – As the price of petrol soars to a staggering R25.68 inland, political parties and unions are voicing concerns over the dire situation consumers now face—a choice between putting food on the table and allocating more of their income to cover transportation costs.
On Monday, the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) announced another round of fuel price increases, which took effect on Wednesday, October 4th.
Consumers are now grappling with a hefty additional cost, paying between R1.08 and R1.14 more per litre for petrol, while diesel has surged by R1.93 and R1.96 per litre.
Take a look at the new fuel prices:
• Petrol 93 will increase by R1,08 per litre
• Petrol 95 will increase by R1,14 per litre
• Diesel 0.05% sulphur will increase by R1,96 per litre
• Diesel 0.005% sulphur will go up by R1,93.70 per litre
• Illuminating Paraffin will increase by R1,51 per litre
• The Single Maximum National Retail price for illuminating paraffin will increase by R2,02 per litre
• Maximum retail price for LP Gas will increase by R2,50 per kilogram
The South African Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu) has expressed its deep concern over this latest petrol price hike.
According to The Citizen, Trevor Shaktu, a spokesperson for the trade union federation, highlighted the negative impact on the working class, saying: “This eighth consecutive increase in petrol and diesel prices will exacerbate the cost of living and have a detrimental effect on the working class.”
Shaktu outlined the three main ways in which these price hikes would affect workers and the unemployed, emphasising how they would escalate fuel costs for vehicle owners, lead to increased road transport fares, and trigger higher prices for other essential goods.
Simultaneously, the Democratic Alliance (DA) is poised to lead a massive protest against the soaring cost of living. The protest is scheduled to take place in the Eastern Cape, an area grappling with extreme poverty, which has tragically led some individuals to take desperate measures.
In a statement, the DA lamented the latest surge in government-controlled fuel prices and its crippling effect on South Africa’s populace while the government benefits from rising tax revenues generated by fuel.
🚨 The ANC government is now forcing South Africans to pay over R25 per litre for fuel! Food prices will now become more unaffordable.
It’s time to stop the over 30% fuel tax rip-off.
Tomorrow the DA will march against the cost-of-living crisis in Butterworth, Eastern Cape. pic.twitter.com/kko2XnwryE
— Democratic Alliance (@Our_DA) October 3, 2023
The party will march to the offices of the Eastern Cape Department of Social Development to deliver a memorandum requesting immediate intervention.
The DA underscored the gravity of the situation, citing a recent heartbreaking incident where a young mother from Butterworth allegedly took the lives of her three children before ending her own life because she could no longer afford to put food on the table.
📣 | The high cost-of-living has forced people to make tragic decisions as they struggle to provide for their families.
The DA will lead a march against the spiralling cost-of-living crisis, calling for a 0% VAT on basic food items and a decrease in fuel prices.#CutFoodCosts pic.twitter.com/E8hceWiwQZ
— Democratic Alliance (@Our_DA) October 3, 2023
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
