The fuel price on Wednesday rose for the fourth consecutive month. [Picture: news.au.com]
Motorists will have to dig deeper into tight pockets as fuel prices have been hiked once again, for the fourth consecutive month. Unions have decried the raise, saying it would force consumers to make a choice between food and transport.
On Wednesday, the price of unleaded 95 petrol increased by R1.14 per litre. Unleaded 93 increased by R1.08. This means motorists inland could pay as much as R25.68 for petrol, while those living along the coast could pay as much as R24.96.
SMread: The Indian Ocean island nation caught between India and China
Tight budgets and tough choices
Amid a rising cost of living and inefficient public transport, the price hikes come at a difficult time for South African consumers.
Said the South African Federation of Trade Union’s (SAFTU) general-secretary Zwelinzima Vavi: “SAFTU is concerned that this eighth consecutive increase in especially petrol and diesel will worsen the cost of living and affect the class negatively.”
He warned the rising fuel costs will inevitably push up the costs of transport and other essential goods.
“This price increase will affect workers and the unemployed in at least three main ways, elevating costs of fuel for vehicle owners, causing road transport fares to rise and causing prices of other goods to also increase.”
Quoted by Eyewitness News, economist Bonke Dumisa said, “Most South Africans cannot take much more.”
“The international Brent crude oil price per barrel has been just under US$94 per barrel and the worst part is that the higher the fuel price increases, it affects our food inflation and our food inflation mainly affects most of the poor people.”
