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GEORGE NEWS - George motorists have voiced their frustration over the petrol price increase on Wednesday, many saying the cost of living in South Africa is already high and that the increase will affect mostly the poor.
The Department of Energy has increased 93 and 95 octane petrol by 26c per litre and 23c per litre, respectively, pushing the price to more than R16 per litre in inland provinces for the first time.
The price of a litre of petrol in South Africa has more than doubled in 10 years, while the fuel levy increased from about R1,30 in 2008 to the current R5,30. The price of illuminating paraffin went up 30 cents per litre.
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In a statement released on Monday, the South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco) said that the latest fuel increases announced by the Department of Energy will put motorists, public transport operators and other consumers under severe pressure.
"Though certain external factors such as the rand-dollar exchange rate that influenced the increase are beyond control, the runaway increases will increase inflation, the cost of doing business, prices of food as well as other commodities, and hurt the poor more," pointed out Sanco national spokesperson Jabu Mahlangu.
George motorists seem to agree.
"Every month one must expect petrol increases is South Africa. They have also increased VAT. What more these people want from us? They want to milk us dry, the poor are the ones that suffer the most in all these increases, because as a result of petrol increases everything will increase and bread will also become expensive. Government must make a plan, we need an urgent solution to this matter," said Ndenzeni Jeje.
"When is this going to stop? Everything just keep on going up - food, transport and electricity and petrol. This really affects my budget. I feel so much more for those who live below the poverty line, I can only imagine they are affected by these increases. There must be a plan to stop this," said Maria Gibbs.
"This really affects people like me who are small business owners. I use a lot of petrol to do my business, as I am in a grass cutting business. My customers complain when I increase my prices in line with new petrol prices, they simply don't understand. This affects us a lot, and it is unfair if you compare it with other countries," said Llewellyn Sauer.
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