Fuel price increase 

Fuel price increased with effect from last week Wednesday 6^th April 2016. A litre of 93 octanes has increased by 86c which leaves it at R12.48 per litre, a litre of 95 octanes has increased by 88c which leaves it at R12.62. A litre of diesel has increased by 63cents which is currently R11.63 per litre. Oil and paraffin have increased by 20cents.

Samuel Mahlangu – TOTAL Petrol Station worker and a local community resident stated that “Fuel not only affect motorists, but affects the whole economy because fuel is essential for the supply of goods and services. For the collection of food products in farms to stores fuel is required. When fuel increase food prices also increase because supermarkets use fuel for the collection of food products, It also affect local households because food becomes expensive to purchase”.

 Dingaan Amos – TOTAL Petrol station manager say “that when fuel price increase or decrease they do not make profit, because they are not the ones setting the fuel price. Fuel is imported and only the company supplying fuel make profit from the fuel increase, When fuel price increase petrol stations lose consumers because the number of cars filling fuel decreases, and that the salary of the workers do not increase when fuel price hike because it is not their call”.

Gontse Mashigo – A taxi owner mentioned that “if petrol keeps on increasing they will migrate to diesel because it is cheaper than petrol and thicker than petrol “. He also mentioned that with a full tank of diesel it can last for two days or more, and that it is more reliable than petrol.

Victor Mashapo a local resident mentioned “that if the taxi fare and bus fare increase they will use train for transport to work. Because fuel price increase and decrease but the taxi fare does not decrease, it keeps on increasing”.