Another petrol price increase on the cards: Residents have their say

Motorists are on high alert as petrol prices are expected to spike next week, May 1, which may place even more financial difficulties in families and businesses already dealing with economic challenges.

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The fuel adjustments are made every first Wednesday of a new month in South Africa based on the dollar/ rand exchange and international oil prices.

The Central Energy Fund (CEF) released a mid-month data statement which anticipated that prices may increase between 32 and 33 cents per litre, which would mean that petrol will cost more than R25 per litre for 93 and 95 octanes.

Diesel on the other hand is expected to decrease with an over-recovery of around 23 and 29 cents per litre, this means that diesel will cost R22 per litre.

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Motorists said that this would hit hard on their pockets as they are already struggling with staying within their financial budgets.

“This is going to be a big problem for me and my family because this means I will have to cut some expenses so I can afford to pay for petrol,” motorist Thabo Mangena said.

In addition, government taxes and currency fluctuations are also contributing factors to the volatility of fuel prices.

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Another motorist Peter August said that he would be happy if the petrol price remained the same instead of going up.

“I wish our government could find more sustainable ways of conserving energy so that whatever changes may come, they will not have adverse effects on us as the consumers,” he concluded.

Below are current the expected fuel changes:

• Petrol 93: increase of 32 cents per litre (R0.32)
• Petrol 95: increase of 33 cents per litre (R0.33)
• Diesel 0.05%: decrease of 23 cents per litre (R0.23)
• Diesel 0.005%: decrease of 29 cents per litre (R0.29)
• Illuminating Paraffin: decrease of 15 cents per litre (R0.15)