FUEL HIKE CONCERNS...

Northam – Motorists in Northam have expressed their concern over the recent fuel increase which they say came at a time they had not yet fully adjusted to the negative financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

On Wednesday 7 April, South African motorists woke up to a steep petrol increase. The R17.32 per litre inland price for 95 unleaded is a new record that surpassed the previous R17.08 figure of 2018. The wholesale price of high-sulphur diesel increased by 65c (inland) while low sulphur diesel also went up by 63 cents. Philip Swanepoel and Felix Khoza, though unhappy with the increase, are still hopeful that the prices will stabilise in the coming months.

The two motorists, who spoke to Platinum Bushvelder while filling up their vehicles at Viva Garage in Northam, said they were yet to fully come to terms with the increase. “This is not good news at all,” Khoza said. “I do not know how people are going to manage to make ends meet because apart from fuel, we also have other bills to pay.” Swanepoel said the increase could see the cost of food, school fees and consumer goods also shooting up. He said: “I think the increase might be linked to an attempt to recover the losses experienced in 2020. I hope the taxi operators do not increase their fares because this would create additional challenges for most people.”
  
Photo: Felix Khoza and Phillip Swanepoel.