Cosatu: Government needs to review taxes on fuel price to assist South Africans following hike
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) said it believes the government should intervene, following September’s massive fuel price increase.
At midnight on Wednesday, petrol rose by R1.71 a litre and diesel by R2.76.
Cosatu’s Matthew Parks said this is a major blow to all South Africans.
“It comes against the backdrop of the significant rise of inflation over the past year, huge increase in the repo rate, and the massive increase of electricity, transport and fuel prices, yet no workers have received the kind of increases that can help them keep pace with this level of increases.”
Parks added that change is needed.
“We really hope that the government can finally make some movement on this issue. It is a perennial crisis because of the international oil price volatility. We think the major space for the government to act is on the 28% of the fuel prices that go to taxes, particularly the Road Accident Fund.
“There’s a need to review the taxes on the fuel price, which is what the government promised to do in 2019 and 2022 – yet didn’t do.”
South Africans will certainly be feeling the pinch in the wake of the fuel price increases, among the highest of 2023.
The massive hikes are largely due to an increase in the price of Brent crude oil and the weakening rand/dollar exchange rate.
From Wednesday, those living at the coast will be paying R23.82 for a litre of petrol and those inland will be forking out R24.54.
This means that filling a 50-litre tank will now cost R85.50 more, while for those with diesel vehicles, a litre will now cost between R19.48 and R20,52.
-EWN
In other news – Pearl Thusi’s twerking video lands her under fire
Popular South African actress and media personality, Pearl Thusi managed to land herself on the trends list again, this time for a video of her gyrating. In the clip, which has gone viral, the media personality can be seen twerking and having fun at a pool.
Scores on social media shared their two cents about the actress, who seems to be making headlines a lot these days. Read More
