Energy Minister Dipuo Peters has instructed a team to determine speed limit reductions as a way to save fuel.

“I have instructed my team to determine the level at which a reduction of the speed limit may be necessary,” she said, adding that this would be in consultation with the Department of Transport.

The minister said that recent events including the rise of the petrol price by 29 cents in May has the potential of disrupting South Africa’s economic growth prospects.

She said the increase in the last two-years of crude oil prices are of concern. "I am concerned about the impact on the ordinary farmer and the impact paraffin price increases have on the poorest of the poor,” she explained.

However, South Africans, she said, need to recognise that the low fuel prices experienced in 2009 were as a result of an unprecedented economic downturn and that recent calls for a reduction in fuel taxes are unfortunate given South Africa’s transparency around fuel pricing.

“Fuel taxes are still lower than in many of our trading partners and are certainly amongst the lowest in the G-20 countries,” the minister added.

She urged South Africans to practice fuel efficiency methods.