South Africans feel the pinch amid fuel and electricity hikes

After a relaxing extra-long weekend, the collective South African high is about to come crashing down as the public anticipates two price hikes in April.

Motorists are warned to fill up their tanks before midnight tonight as The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy has published the latest official fuel price adjustments, another fuel price increase hits on Wednesday (April 3).

This is the third fuel price hike in a row.

The following are the increases that announced by the Central Energy Fund (CEF):

From 00:01 on Wednesday, April 3, petroleum-based fuels will see the following changes:

Inland:

• Petrol 93: increase of 65 cents per litre (R0.65)
• Petrol 95: increase of 67 cents per litre (R0.67)
• Diesel 0.05%: increase of three cents per litre (R0.03)
• Diesel 0.005%: decrease of two cents per litre (R0.02)
• Illuminating Paraffin: decrease of 29 cents per litre (R0.29)
• LPGAS: decrease of 19 cents per kilogram (R0.19)

Coastal:

• Petrol 93: Increase of 58 cents per litre (R0.58)
• Petrol 95: Increase of 60 cents per litre (R0.60)
• Diesel 0.05%: Decrease of four cents per litre (R0.04)
• Diesel 0.005%: Decrease of nine cents per litre (R0.09)
• Illuminating Paraffin: Decrease of 26 cents per litre (R0.26)
• LPGAS: decrease of 19 cents per kilogram (R0.19)

In the meantime, residential homeowners who receive their electricity directly from Eskom will also see an increase in their Eskom bills as tariff hikes will increase by 12,74% in April.

Eskom spokesperson Daphne Mokwena said the electricity tariff increases for local municipalities will come into effect from July 1.

 “Eskom direct customers from the period April 1 2024 to March  31 2025 all tariff charges except the affordability subsidy charge a percentage increase of 12.74%. Affordability subsidy charges a percentage increase of 25.24%. The average increase applied to the key industrial and urban tariffs will be 13.29% due to the increase in the affordability subsidy charge,” the power utility said.

This is due to a massive NERSA-approved increase of 33.77% hike split over two years.

What does this mean for the average resident?

After the 12.74% comes into effect this month, you might see an increase in your electricity bill from 173.8c /kWh to 195.95c/kWh.

Share your thoughts on the increases on the Newcastle Advertiser’s Facebook page.

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