South Africans are bracing for another steep increase in fuel prices set to take effect from Wednesday, with the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources confirming sharp hikes across the board.
Petrol is expected to rise by around R3.27 per litre, while diesel could surge by as much as R6.19 per litre, placing further strain on consumers and businesses already grappling with the rising cost of living.
Executive Director of the Fuels Industry Association of South Africa, Avhapfani Tshifularo, said that global instability is a key driver behind the increases.
“It is primarily due to the war that is taking place in the Middle East. Prices have remained elevated over the past six to eight weeks, and every time there is talk of escalation, we see an upward movement in fuel prices,” Tshifularo said.
He added that rising fuel costs will have a ripple effect across multiple sectors.
“Everybody who depends on petroleum products is likely to be affected, particularly sectors such as agriculture, mining, and fishing, which rely heavily on diesel. Higher diesel prices will increase input costs and the overall cost of doing business,” he explained.
Listen to the full interview with Avhapfani Tshifularo:
Meanwhile, the South African National Taxi Council says fare increases are now unavoidable as operators try to offset rising fuel costs.
Spokesperson Rebecca Phala said commuters are already feeling the impact, with fare hikes ranging between R2 and R6 depending on the association.
She warned that operators are trying to strike a balance between affordability and sustainability, but further increases later in the year remain possible due to ongoing uncertainty in global fuel markets.
VOC News
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