Motorists fill up their tanks ahead of the large increase in fuel. Picture: David Ritchie/African News Agency (ANA)
Pretoria - The latest fuel price increase has triggered the fears and concerns among South Africans from all walks of life.
The debate was also joined by celebrity Andile Ncube, who said: “Lucky are those with mattress money because the rest of us are not coping with this. Here is a cause I am willing to take to the streets for...”
Mandla Masande said the fuel price increase took his mind to the plight of those people living in remote rural areas and paid R50 just to get to town in a taxi.
Michael Sebola said: “This country is going down the drain, and as young people we are going to face a very tough tomorrow where only the rich and the connected will enjoy life.
“There are no jobs and companies are still retrenching left, right and centre. Even governments are struggling to pay their workers. Crime will continue to rise and state-owned entities will be sold to the private sector.”
Mashishi Sekini said in the worst case scenario, people unable to afford the high prices would eventually quit their jobs because they would suffer a lot when the taxi industry also increases prices.
Vladislav Sita said: “A petrol price of R27 a litre is crazy insanity. To put that into perspective, R100 of petrol is 3.7 litres, which is the equivalent of putting in R30 petrol five years ago. We are in hell.”
Some people called on the EFF and the South African National Taxi Council to organise a big shutdown to make the government reduce levies on fuel prices and take extra measures to save people from job losses and corruption.
The DA also joined the fray and said Ramaphosa’s government was taxing citizens into poverty. “When he (Cyril Ramaphosa) was elected president, the price of petrol per litre was R13.76; this week you will pay R26.74. Over 30% of this is taxes and levies,” it said.
The party further called on the nation to join its #SlashFuelPrices campaign.
Pretoria News