December starts on bad terms as petrol prices increase

The Department of Petroleum and Mineral Resources has published the official fuel price adjustments for December.

The new prices took effect on Wednesday, December 3, and are expected to place added strain on household budgets across South Africa.

Both grades of petrol are now 29 cents more per litre, while diesel has risen by between 65 cents and 85 cents per litre. The impact will be felt almost immediately on motorists, delivery drivers, and small businesses.

The cost of illuminating paraffin, which many families in and around Northside rely on for heating, lighting and cooking, has climbed by nearly R1 per litre. Community members who depend on paraffin have expressed concern that the increase will make it more difficult to manage monthly expenses, especially as we move deeper into the year.

“This increase will make things bad for us because this means we need to strengthen our monthly budget for paraffin”, said Honeydew resident, Thabiso Magasela.

On the other hand, Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) has gone up by 24 cents, affecting households that use gas as a more affordable alternative for cooking and heating.

Despite the department’s delayed detailed information, fuel price changes generally follow shifts in global oil prices and the performance of the rand against the dollar.

“The main contributing factors are oversupply concerns due to increased production by OPEC+ and non-OPEC [Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries] producers amid slower global demand,” Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, Gwede Mantashe, shared in a statement.

Local shop owners and transport operators warn that the higher fuel costs may soon push up prices of basic goods and public transport fares in the Northside area.

Residents are encouraged to plan carefully and keep an eye out for further updates in the coming weeks.

9 fuel saving tips:

• stick to the speed limits
• don’t accelerate harshly
• keep your eyes on the road
• make momentum work for you
• don’t use your aircon too much
• don’t overload your car
• try to reduce idling time
• avoid short trips

Northside residents react to fuel price hike:

Following the latest fuel price increase, many Northside residents say the rise is already affecting their day-to-day lives.

Luyanda Mzobe (motorist):

“Every month, it feels like we’re paying more just to get to work. I’m now trying to combine errands into one trip because I can’t afford to fill up like before,” he said.

Khanyisani Simelane (business owner):

“Fuel is one of my biggest expenses. Even an extra few cents affects my pricing. I’m trying not to raise delivery fees, but at some point I might have no choice,” he explained.

Zethembe Khanyi (E-hailing cab driver):

“We spend most of our day on the road, so every fuel hike hits us hard. The app fares stay the same, but our costs go up. At the end of the day, you take home less,” he said.

Nomfundo Zakwe:

“Whenever petrol or diesel goes up, taxi prices follow. I already spend a lot on transport. If fares rise again, it will be a struggle,” she said.