Fuel Price Increase Another Blow For Cash-Strapped South Africans

The price of petrol will increase by five cents, diesel will increase by 45 cents, and the price of paraffin is set to increase by 39 cents a litre as from Tuesday midnight.

Agricultural experts said that the sector was expected to be hit the hardest by the fuel price increases.

The additional increase will affect transport, packaging and distribution for commercial farmers, with consumers having to make up for it, says head of agronomy at Stellenbosch University, Professor Nick Kotze.

“The increase in production costs will work through to the consumer and also for the ordinary consumer it means an increase in travelling expenses.”

The United Association of South Africa (Uasa) has called on the government to come to the aid of struggling South Africans.