ANA reports that Cosatu said on Monday that poor households would be hardest hit by yet another increase in the price of fuel.
Citing a weaker rand against the dollar, the energy department advised at the weekend that the price of petrol would go up by up to 26 cents per litre from Wednesday. This follows a steep increase last month as well. The wholesale price of illuminating paraffin, used by many households that cannot afford electricity, will also increase, by 22 cents a litre. Cosatu spokesman Sizwe Pamla said the labour federation was “deeply alarmed” by the escalating price of fuel. He stated: “This spells bad news for all South Africans but the impact on poor families will be even worse. This increase in fuel prices will create a level of hardship for a group that is already suffering from high levels of unemployment and stagnant or declining real wages. Low- and moderate-income families are going to plunge further and further into debt because their wages are now inadequate to afford the basic amenities.”
- Read this report in full at The Citizen
- Read too, Petrol price hike record blow for the country’s consumers, at Business Report
Read Cosatu’s press statement in this regard at Cosatu News
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page