THE owners of taxis belonging to the largest organization in the country, the South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO), are lamenting the increase in petrol prices.
The indications of the Central Energy Fund (CEF), show that petrol 95 octane, may increase by R5,82 per liter, while 93 octane will increase by R5,32.
They say that diesel may increase by R10.27 per liter. It turns out that these figures do not include the tax paid on petrol, the fuel levy which is said to increase by 21c per litre.
The chairman of Santaco KwaZulu-Natal, Mr. Boy Zondi, said that car owners are crying because something like this has never happened in the history of the increase in petrol prices in South Africa.
“We are starting to face something like this in history. Its increase in this way will make it very difficult for car owners as well as our bosses who are passengers,” said Zondi.
He said there is no doubt that it will be very difficult to work as it is known to be observed during the Easter weekend, when most people use public transport to go to their homes as well as to services.
“We are Santaco at the provincial level, we have not come out with a decision to increase the fare as soon as it will be the Easter weekend to try to deal with the situation. So we personally will not increase the fare but I want to make it clear that we will not prevent other associations in different areas from raising it now,” said Zondi, who said that the association will feel how hot the bell is.
However, he revealed that they have decided to hold an emergency meeting on the petrol issue next week, after which he said, they will definitely increase the fare.
“We will definitely increase the fare next year. We will not wait for July as we always do,” he said.
Referring to their members, who are the passengers, he said he asks them to understand that they are also businessmen in the industry, and they are facing an overwhelming situation.
“We would not have increased the fare if these practices had not happened. We would have waited for July 1 as usual,” said Zondi.
The President of the country, Mr. Cyril Ramaphosa, while delivering the closing speech at the ANC conference in Limpopo at the weekend, warned of future difficulties due to the increase in petrol and diesel.
He said he has instructed the ministers to deal with the problems that will be caused by the increase in petrol and diesel.
The sharp increase in petrol was caused by the ongoing unrest in the Middle East, which led to an increase in the price of oil, and put pressure on the strength of the local rand.
Crude oil rose from $69 to over $115, while the rand’s strength dropped from R15.85 to R17.00 against the US Dollar.