Something not right about high petrol price

There are many unanswered questions around this issue, writes Eddie Joubert from Parktown.

It amazes me how none of the really important questions regarding the petrol price get asked. A few years ago it was public knowledge that Nigeria was prepared to supply us oil at a far reduced rate, as long as we helped refine their oil for their domestic needs as they have no refining capacity. What happened to this proposal?

The first question I would like to ask is: where do we buy our oil?

If the answer is the Gulf states, then this is ludicrous. It is twice as far away and we would be paying Opec prices. Why is our petrol price always worked out on Opec prices, when we have cheaper alternatives available?

Even Venezuela was prepared to sell their oil at a reduced rate to us, despite the fact that it is halfway across the world.

Our fuel levy (which is meant for road infrastructure), is deducted from every litre of petrol bought, yet we have to pay toll fees. Why is this not being used for roads?

Government is duping us and not giving straight answers. Where is all the money going? I would go as far as to say that every voter should demand that the political parties competing in the elections should make transparency on this issue part of their manifesto, or suffer at the ballot box! If it were up to me, every politician would undergo a polygraph or step down. Let someone else do the job.