SOUTH AFRICANS STRUGGLE WITH RISING PETROL PETROL PRICES

In South Africa, the cost of petrol is rising quickly, and it’s causing a big problem. The government recently increased the petrol prices, and this is worrying for people and the country’s economy.
This price increase is due to a mix of things, both local and global, like the price of crude oil, the exchange rate of the South African Rand to the US Dollar, and something called the Slate Levy. These factors have caused the fuel prices to go up a lot.
For the month of October in 2023, the prices of petrol and diesel have gone up, and it’s not good news for South African drivers. Here’s how much they’ve gone up:
Petrol (93 ULP and LRP): R1.08/l
Petrol (95 ULP and LRP): R1.14/l
Diesel (0.05% sulfur): R1,96.70/l
Diesel (0.005% sulfur): R1,93.70/l
Illuminating paraffin (wholesale): R1.51/l
The Single Maximum National Retail price (SMNRP) for IP: R2.02/l
Maximum LPGas Retail Price: R2.50/kg
People who own cars, like Aobakwe, are feeling the pain. Aobakwe says, “The constant increase in petrol prices in South Africa is like the new load shedding. Just when we’re getting used to the new price, it goes up again. Food prices are also going up, but can we blame them? They need petrol or diesel to transport the food. We’re uncertain about what’s going to happen in the next few months, so we’re being very careful with every cent we have.”
These petrol price hikes are making people upset because they know that food prices will also go up. It’s affecting them badly.
Tetelo, who is also feeling the pinch, says that she feels devastated. She remembers a time when R100 could buy her 5 liters of petrol, but now it only gets her 3 liters. Many South Africans are worried and are questioning why petrol prices keep going up. Thabang shares his thoughts, saying, “When petrol prices go up, it affects other things like food. And with our struggling economy, it’s putting even more pressure on households.”
As petrol prices continue to climb, South Africans are feeling the burden. It’s not just about filling up the tank; it’s about how it affects their everyday lives, from getting to work to putting food on the table. People are hoping for some relief from this petrol price crisis that is impacting their lives and the economy.