Make a stand against huge fuel prices

PEOPLE Against Petrol and Paraffin Price Increases (PAPPPI) has come out strongly against government explanations for the fuel price increases projected next month. In September, the government intervened by reducing petrol price increases to 5c, as opposed to the 28c anticipated.

This move cost the government R500 million and came about because of the sustained pressure, by lobby group PAPPPI, through marches and other forms of protests.

Energy Minister Jeff Radebe expressed his “concern” that fuel prices are set to go up by over one rand a litre next month.

As PAPPPI, we warned that the current formula used

by government to determine fuel prices will result in us paying closer to R20 a litre of fuel by the end of this year.

The fuel price is calculated monthly, based on the price of crude oil and the value of the rand against the dollar.

As a result of the economic recession and poor management of our finances in South Africa, the value of the rand will continue to deteriorate. OPEC is keen on pushing up the cost of crude oil to $80 a barrel.

It is clear that fuel prices, based on the government’s calculations, will increase.

Fuel price increases affect all South Africans because food and transport costs go up. Motorists will have to find an extra R200 per month for petrol.

The cost of bread and other basic foods has also gone up and, in a country where over 30 million people live in poverty or live off a measly state grant, the fuel price increases will do untold harm to the majority of our people.

PAPPPI has formulated a package of innovative and groundbreaking proposals that will ignite our economy and reduce fuel prices.

A media briefing will be held on Thursday, September 20, 2018, at 10am, at the Blue Lagoon Conference Centre in Durban, outlining our proposals and our plan of action, which includes a countrywide shutdown later this month.

PAPPPI communications officers:

Rynel Govender and

Sabeena Chetty