By Rorisang Modiba
- Some South Africans rushed to fill up their tanks after reports that fuel prices could rise sharply next month.
- The Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources says there is no fuel shortage and no reason to rush to the pumps.
Some South Africans have been rushing to fill up their tanks after news broke that fuel prices could jump next month.
But the government says there is no shortage. The Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources (DMPR) says there is no need to race to the nearest garage.
The rush started after reports said the government was telling workers to stay home to save on fuel. The DMPR says that is not true. Someone mentioned working from home as an example during a workshop. It was never a policy or a government instruction.
Early estimates show petrol could go up by more than R5 a litre. Diesel could rise by nearly R10 a litre.
The government has set up a Cabinet committee to look at what can be done. Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana, Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe and Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa are all on it.
People have called on the government to cut fuel levies to ease the pain. So far, the government has said no. The National Treasury says there is very little money to help, and anything offered would be small and short-term.
Pictured above: A South African petrol station.
Image source: File
