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Solidarity today expressed its opposition to the latest fuel price levies and emphasised the unsustainability thereof. This follows a further sharp rise in fuel prices that was announced yesterday.
 
According to Solidarity, this latest fuel levy, together with new travel restrictions against South Africa that paralyse the tourism industry, and general bad economic conditions, may be the last straw to break the camel’s back. Solidarity is of the opinion that consumers will simply no longer be able to keep up.
 
“It is time for the consumer, the ordinary citizen, to be put first by our government. People need to be able to go to work and buy food. Rising fuel prices are making consumers increasingly poorer. The government must abandon its price conspiracy between itself and the fuel dealers,” says Theuns du Buisson, economic researcher at Solidarity.
 
Du Buisson emphasised that Solidarity will continue to fight for the deregulation of all forms of fuel, specifically petrol. He argues that competition in the market will undoubtedly pave the way for cheaper fuel for the consumer, rather than the sustained pressure of prices, where gas station owners fill their pockets based on government regulations.
 
“It is for this reason that Solidarity recently wrote to the Minister of Finance, as well as the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, demanding that the fuel levy be reduced and that the prices of petrol and diesel be left to the market at all levels. We ask again that the minister will heed our call. We are consulting with our legal team. We are also busy with a report on government mandated price-fixing, which we will use as foundation to continue the fight for cheaper fuel next year,” du Buisson concluded.

Issued by Solidarity