Unemployment, high crime rates and dysfunctional municipalities are but a few of the issues South Africans have to contend with on a daily basis. Those lucky enough to have jobs are faced with rising food prices, with many hard-working individuals having to resort to loans and credit just to make it to month-end. Sadly, millions of South Africans are forced to use our unreliable and unsafe public transport. Those who are fortunate to have a car are now faced with even more price hikes. The Automobile Association of South Africa has warned that petrol prices may reach an alarming R20 a litre by the end of the year. MyBroadband reports that the AA “warned the current data showed that petrol could go up by 99c per litre, while diesel and illuminating paraffin could increase by R1.42 a litre.” This could potentially make petrol and motor vehicle ownership too expensive for consumers who are already stretched. Let’s look at a practical example using a humble family saloon, the Suzuki Ciaz. With a 43L fuel tank, it would hypothetically cost R860 to fill up. Suzuki says the Ciaz can travel 782 km between trips to the tank. If the average family car requires fuelling bi-monthly, that’s an eye-watering R1,720 a month on petrol, a prohibitive cost for a middle-class South African family. Will consumers recover from this possible reality? Read the original article, “Catastrophic” petrol price increase for South Africa – R20 by end of the year, here. — Jarryd Neves, Motoring correspondent.
“Catastrophic” petrol price increase for South Africa — R20 by end of the year
By MyBroadband
South African motorists could be hit by fuel price hikes of “catastrophic proportions” in November, the Automobile Association (AA) has warned.
The anticipated increases are primarily due to surging oil prices, coupled with a weakening Rand.
The organisation warned the current data showed that petrol could go up by 99c per litre, while diesel and illuminating paraffin could increase by R1.42 a litre.
“This will push 95 unleaded petrol (ULP) inland above R19 per litre (close to R19.30 per litre), and diesel to R17 per litre,” the AA said.
“Taking this potential increase into account, the price of a litre of 95 ULP would have increased from R14.86 per litre in January to R19.30 per litre in November – a 30% increase over 11 months.”
The AA also highlighted that the increases in diesel and illuminating paraffin prices would be the biggest in South Africa’s history, considering that the current estimates were only based on half a month’s data.
It added that R20 a litre for petrol was now a “realistic scenario” before the end of 2021.
The AA also warned there was little hope of improvement in the expected prices before the end of October.
“Brent Crude has broken through the US$85 (R1,255) per barrel mark and the basket of oil prices used to calculate South Africa’s oil price are following Brent higher,” the AA explained.
“We note the concern this is generating in the USA, where President Biden was reported to have called on the OPEC+ cartel to increase oil output to stabilise prices.”
“This has not generated a response from OPEC+, and our view is that a response is not likely, since the current price pressures are beneficial to the cartel’s members,” the AA stated.
While these factors are largely outside of South Africa’s control, the AA said South Africans could blame the government for the weak performance of the rand.
The Rand to US dollar exchange rate has jumped from around R14,55 to R14.90 over the first half of October, adding to the expected increases.
It added there was also uncertainty regarding changes to the Slate Levy.
“The under-recovery to date this month has been vast, and the government will, in our view, have no option but to increase the Slate Levy to recover this deficit, making for a bigger hike,” the AA said.
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