By Selloane Ntshonyane
- The government cut the fuel levy by three rands in April to help South Africans but will stop in June.
- Soweto commuter Zodwa Mbele says local taxi fares recently jumped and Mbele now spends R255 a week on transport.
South Africans are still paying high taxi fares even after the government extended a cut to the fuel levy.
The government introduced a temporary R3 per litre reduction on the general fuel levy in April. Officials brought in the cut after fighting in the Middle East pushed global oil prices up.
The government planned to end the relief on 5 May. Officials have now extended the cut until 2 June to help households struggling with high transport costs.
The government expects the cut to cost R17.2 billion between April and June. The state will phase out the relief by the end of June.
But commuters in Soweto say the government cut changes nothing because taxi owners have already increased their prices.
Zodwa Mbele travels from Pimville to Freedom Park every day. Mbele said the transport costs jumped from R210 to R255 a week.
“Reducing fuel prices now does not really help because taxi fares have already gone up,” Mbele said. “I used to spend R210 a week getting to work, but now I spend R255. That money was used to help me buy lunch at work and cover extra costs like airtime and data.”
Mbele said the short local trip feels too expensive. The commuter now buys fewer groceries to make sure there is enough money for the taxi.
Taxi driver Xola Tshabalala said drivers are also struggling to survive.
“We understand commuters are frustrated, but we are also struggling,” Tshabalala said. “Fuel prices, vehicle maintenance and spare parts are expensive, and we cannot continue charging old fares while our costs keep increasing.”
Tshabalala said taxi operators are trying to keep their businesses running while passengers fight high costs.
Pictured above: Taxi’s.
Image source: Selloane Ntshonyane
