A group called the People Against Petrol and Paraffin Increases (Pappi) has urged citizens to protest following another record fuel price hike.
The organisation said the expected sharp fuel hike will not only affect motorists, but will also cause huge financial strain on businesses, public transport commuters and every person in the country.
It is estimated that there will be an increase of around R2,31 per litre for petrol.
That does not include the re-application of the full general fuel levy (GFL), which will see another R1,50 added to the price.
This means that motorists could see an increase of about R3,81 per litre next Wednesday, should the exchange rate and oil price remain roughly the same.
Diesel prices are also expected to increase by about R2,70 when adding the entire GFL.
Pappi chairperson Visvin Reddy said it was about time that people use whatever means possible to express their anger and dissatisfaction with the increase in the price of fuel.
Reddy called upon all South Africans to participate in the switch-off campaign from 8 am to 9 am on Monday, where motorists should switch off their vehicles and park on the side of the road.
He said it would be a sign of protest against the exorbitant increase being imposed.
“It is good that we now have political parties that have decided to join in and participate in a protest. We have structures in different provinces and they’ve all confirmed that members and the crowd will be participating in the protest,” he said.
Reddy said there is also an online petition which people can sign.
An economist, Professor Bantu Dumisa, said fuel prices have been at a record high since February this year.
He said the negative multiplier effect of these increases has been that it is also pushing up food inflation in the country.
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Dumisa said fuel increases have made the cost of doing business higher in the South African business environment. “The end user suffers as the cost of living for everyone increases and it’s even worse for the poorest of the poor.
“These include people who use public transport, because the taxi and bus industry might increase their prices which affects commuters.
“This takes away from the little money that people have. It’s clear that we are in real trouble and things are bad. I’m always optimistic but I don’t want to give people false hope in this,” said Dumisa.
