MISA, the Motor Industry Staff Association, wants Mineral Resources and Energy Minister, Gwede Mantashe to put action to his words in urgently reviewing the pricing methodology for petrol.

Mantashe and Finance Minister, Enoch Godongwana promised South Africans that this will be reviewed urgently even before Russia’s invasion of the Ukraine.

Martlé Keyter, MISA’s Chief Executive Officer: Operations, says the Union have requested Minister Mantashe since 11 March 2022, in six e-mails, to be included as a stakeholder in the review of the fuel pricing methodology. 

“First the Ministry did not get our e-mail. Then the Union had to wait until someone returned from sick leave. This is unacceptable. MISA wants to be part of the solution because the skyrocketing fuel price will have a devastating impact on the 300 000 employees in the motor retail industry,” says Keyter. 

Ministers Mantashe, Godongwana and President Cyril Ramaphosa have already made it clear that Government’s temporary reduction in the general fuel levy will not be extended after 31 May 2022. 

With the fuel price relief of R1.50 per litre added, motorists could pay up R3.70 per litre more in June.

Dawie Roodt, Chief Economist of the Efficient Group, says the sharp rise in the fuel price will result in a sharp rise in the inflation that is currently at 5.9%. 

“If inflation rises, the South African Reserve Bank will have no choice but to increase the repo rate.  Food prices will soar. It will have a devastating impact on any possibility of economic growth in South Africa,” says Roodt. 

The Reserve Bank increased the repo rate by 50 basis points to 4.75% per year, with effect from the 20 May 2022.

MISA represents 54 000 members in the retail motor industry who is dependent on motor vehicle- and component sales, vehicle services and repair work. As a responsible trade union MISA wants to help wherever we can to protect jobs in the motor retail industry, says Keyter. 

 

Issued on behalf of MISA by Sonja Carstens, Media, Liaison and Communication Specialist