By: Natasha Archary
Sahlulele Luzipo has welcomed Parliament’s calls for a comprehensive petrol price review.
Parliament’s portfolio committee on mineral resources and energy is calling for a more permanent solution to buffer the temporary relief of the fuel levy.
On Wednesday, the price of petrol increased by R2.43/litre taking the cost per litre up to over R24. Treasury and the Department of Resources and Energy held back on the fuel levy.
Making the decision to gradually introduce the R1.50 fuel levy from 6 July until 02 August the levy will be added by 75c over this period.
While this temporary measure has been welcomed, Chairperson Sahlulele Luzipo said this doesn’t offer a holistic solution.
He said government needs to consider placing these taxes elsewhere, fearing deregulation is going to have a negative impact on black-owned businesses.
The latest increase has pushed South Africans over the edge with many keen on staging a National Shutdown on Friday, 10 July in protest.
Many are calling for urgent intervention and a comprehensive petrol price review, to slash the cost of fuel in the country but the Minister of Resources and Energy says there are a number of factors contributing to the price increase.
In particular, the war between Russia and Ukraine which has had a knock-on effect on the cost of oil.
Meanwhile the EFF and DA have slammed the latest petrol increase for June, saying it’s going to hit the poorest of the poor the worst.
The DA is calling for the de-regulation of fuel, saying providers should compete on the price of fuel.
They also want an end to the general fuel levy of almost R4/litre, and for motorists, taxis and transport companies to be exempt from contributing to the Road Accident Fund levy.
This is if they are already paying for insurance. According to the DA these measures can slash the price by fuel by 33%.
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