South Africa: Another Fuel Increase Lands On Families Already Stretched Thin
[Scrolla] Diesel rises by nearly R3 a litre, petrol by R1.34, and paraffin by R2.13 a litre, all from Wednesday, 2 September. A family living on minimum wage is already short by almost half on food money, even before this new fuel increase.
In South Africa, fuel prices have risen, creating financial strain for families already living on the edge. Diesel prices increased by up to R3.15 per litre, while petrol went up by R1.34 per litre. Illuminating paraffin, a common cooking fuel for many households, rose by R2.13 per litre. Even liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), used for gas stoves and heaters, saw a 69 cent increase per kilogram, or 79 cents in the Western Cape.
The situation is dire, as most families have little spare money to absorb these increases. According to the Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity Group, someone working full-time on minimum wage earned a maximum of R4,836.80 in August. After accounting for taxi fares, electricity, and other expenses, that worker had only R1,653.35 left, which is almost two-thirds of their entire wage.
With this limited income, families face a significant challenge in feeding themselves. If every remaining rand went directly to food, each person would only receive R413.34 for the entire month.
The government's minimum amount needed to avoid hunger is R855 per person, which means families are already 48% short. This shortage exists even before considering adequate nutrition. Furthermore, the new fuel prices exacerbate the situation, as taxi fares are already increasing due to rising fuel costs. In Pietermaritzburg, taxi fares jumped by R4 per trip in June, a 20% increase, following an earlier fuel hike.
Other areas also experienced smaller fare hikes. Taxi operators, who primarily use diesel, often pass on the increased fuel costs to passengers by raising fares.
The ripple effect of these fuel price increases is significant. Families who rely on paraffin and gas for cooking face an additional financial burden, further squeezing their already limited resources. AllAfrica, a news agency, reports that it publishes around 600 stories daily from various sources, including government publications and spokespersons. Readers can contact AllAfrica to address any comments or concerns regarding the reported information.
Written by urgent.news from AllAfrica's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
