Why spare culprits in shoddy fuel deal?

THE Haiti government has just decided to suspend its fuel price increase because of violent public protests that have created havoc in the country, costing billions in damages.

Here in South Africa there is a huge public outcry regarding the exorbitant fuel prices that seem to be going up in leaps and bounds.

With fuel price increases, all related commodities such as transport and food prices also increase. Unfortunately, it is the consumer who pays the price, especially the underprivileged.

What I find a mystery is what is the status of the government selling off so-called surplus fuel of more than 10 million barrels at the then meagre price of $28 a barrel which was way below the market price.

This cost the country billions in a shoddy deal by a state-owned entity. Surely this fuel reserve serves as a buffer and should be released when international fuel prices rocket, thereby easing the burden for hardpressed consumers.

This transaction happened in early 2016 but ordinary South Africans have still to hear of any minister and cronies within the energy department and PetroSA being suspended and charged. It is obvious that when incompetent individuals are employed in strategic departments, but are only there for personal gain it is the very people they are meant to serve who suffer.

Hopefully the new dawn President Cyril Ramaphosa speaks about emerges faster than the sun rises.