Motorists and commuters are frustrated with the latest fuel hike. Prices rose to a record high at midnight and so did the prices of paraffin and taxi fares. South African consumers will have to dig deep in their pockets as the cost of living continues to soar.
This is a third consecutive fuel increase in barely half a year. Motorists will now fork out more than R15 a litre following the 82c a litre increase.
Diesel also went up by 85 cents. “I had to put my prices up because of the petrol and customers are complaining,” says metered taxi driver.
Taxi users will also have to foot the bill, an extra cost to their already tight budget. “Man it is R2 more and I do not have money,” says one of the commuters.
With the winter cold setting in, most households using paraffin can expect to pay more. Gas went up by R1,09 a litre.
With the fuel price hike, food and other consumables will cost consumers more. Meanwhile, Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Mmusi Maimane says his party will approach Parliament for what he has called an unreasonable increase of the fuel price.
With employment still a crisis in the country, Maimane says government is making it difficult for ordinary South Africans to get by every day.
Maimane interacted with commuters and taxi drivers at the Noord-Taxi rank, north of Johannesburg.
He questioned the intention of government in regulating fuel prices. Maimane says the fuel hike is a great concern that will have a huge impact not only on commuters but South Africa as a whole.
