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The outrageous price of fuel has dominated South African news headlines over the last couple of months. The situation has become untenable.
As we write this, COSATU (Congress of South African Trade Unions) is staging a picket on the N3 highway at the Mariannhill Toll Plaza, KwaZulu-Natal, to protest both the cost of fuel and the recent VAT increase.
According to a statement issued:
The picket, so far, has not gone well. According to confirmed news reports, Police have fired stun grenades in an attempt to disperse the crowd and prevent protestors from stopping N3 Durban traffic.
The price of petrol is currently sitting at unprecedented levels, with 95 ULP in Gauteng costing R17.08 per litre and Coastal costing R16.49 per litre.
These hikes have inevitably resulted in the cost of everything else going up – including basic human needs such as food, heat and public transport.
But, perhaps there is finally some relief on the way.
The word of our government is about as useful as an airbag on a motorcycle. But, nevertheless, we cling to hope. Energy Minister, Jeff Radebe, has said that the government is currently mulling over the idea of setting a maximum price for unleaded fuel.
As the price of global crude oil continues to rise, Radebe stated that the government is fully aware of the effect the rising fuel price has had on South African citizens, and that it is currently looking into solutions to reduce that impact.
A task team has reportedly been put together in order to have a look at the legal implications of implementing a price cap, as well as the basic logistics.
This team includes officials from both the Department of Energy and the National Treasury, and is expected to arrive at a decision by 18 October 2018.
We’ve attempted to cover stories which are not only insightful for the average consumer / motorist, but also helpful.
We recently reported on how funds allocated toward repairing damaged roads throughout the country have now been re-routed in order to further fund the catastrophic failure of the E-Toll system. That’s right, we’re burning money, and in the meanwhile, consumers have just been forced to swallow the largest fuel price hike in SA history.
We’ve also compared the price of fuel in South Africa to that of other countries, and just to play devil’s advocate, we’ve highlighted a pretty common fact that countries with the lowest fuel prices are more prone to violent crime and poverty in the face of collapsing economies.
We have offered extensive tips on how to get the best out of your vehicle and how to save fuel as much as you can, and we’ve asked – does the government even really care at all?