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On Tuesday Solidarity expressed its opposition to the latest fuel price levies and emphasised the unsustainability thereof. This followed a further sharp rise in fuel prices announced on Monday.
According to the trade union, the latest fuel levy, together with new travel restrictions against SA that will paralyse the tourism industry and generally bad economic conditions, may be the last straw that will “break the camel’s back”. Solidarity is of the view that consumers will simply no longer be able to keep up. “It is time for the consumer, the ordinary citizen, to be put first by our government. People need to be able to go to work and buy food. Rising fuel prices are making consumers increasingly poorer. The government must abandon its price conspiracy between itself and the fuel dealers,” said Theuns du Buisson, economic researcher at Solidarity. He emphasised that Solidarity would continue to fight for the deregulation of all forms of fuel, specifically petrol. He also advised that Solidarity had recently written to the Minister of Finance, as well as the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, demanding that the fuel levy be reduced and that the prices of petrol and diesel be left to the market at all levels “We ask again that the minister will heed our call. We are consulting with our legal team. We are also busy with a report on government mandated price-fixing, which we will use as foundation to continue the fight for cheaper fuel next year,” Du Buisson indicated.
- Read the full original of Solidarity’s press statement in the above regard at Solidarity News
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page