The poor households of South Africa endure the impact of increased food prices and housing costs, while the ANC utilises resources of the state for the party’s benefit and charged the EFF (Economic Freedom Fighters) as a response towards a hike in fuel prices that came into effect on Tuesday, May 31.
On Wednesday, June 1, the red berets stated, “It is appalling that the government declares such drastic fuel increases and electricity rate increases and yet refuses workers an increase that is equal to or above inflation.”
The EFF that threatened a national shutdown till the cost of petrol was decreased and stated the National Treasury, as well as the energy minister, ought to establish direct measures to bring the cost of fuel down.
The call of the EFF got support from the DA, that stated the government must scrap the general fuel charge to ease the effect of record-high fuel price increases.
DA’s spokesperson on mineral resources and energy, John Mileham, stated, “That’s about R3.93c per litre. We state scrap that [fuel levy] completely as the general fuel levy goes into the national revenue fund and gets used to support anything that government does, from purchasing a flagpole for R22-million to an R50-million donation to Cuba.”
The country’s opposition party further added that it would hold demonstrations in various provinces to agitate against the rising fuel prices.
On Tuesday, May 31, the government expanded the decrease in the general fuel charge by two months more, bringing reprieve to those already struggling. It was predicted that the fuel price would hit record highs of around R4 per litre from Wednesday onwards.
The R1.50 ease will now be expanded from June 1 until July 6 2022, followed by a lowered adjustment for the second month to 75c per litre from July 7 to August.
Petrol increased by up to R2.43 per litre on Tuesday, while diesel rose by up to R1.10 per litre.
