The Department of Energy (DoE) announced on Monday that motorists should expect an increase in petrol price from Wednesday with the price of 93 unleaded and leaded petrol has increased by 29 c/l and 95 unleaded and leaded by 26 c/l.
The prices of petrol and diesel are highly determined by the oil price and also the strength of the rand given that South Africa buys oil in dollars, the rand started the month at around R13.70/$ but it was last trading at around R14.24/$.
Both 93 unleaded and 95 unleaded were cut by 10 cents per litre in the first week of June, and diesel was hiked by 20 cents per liter.
Soshanguve Pulse went out to talk to motorist who expressed unhappiness at the recent increase.
Taxi driver, Mr Tumelo Marema, said the increase is negatively affecting them because the same trips they make daily will now require more petrol money which means I is more money out than more money in. “The taxi fare will not be changing simply because the petrol price suddenly increased,” he said.
Mr Xolani Masilela a local taxi commuter said he is worried that the taxi fare will increase. “If the taxi fare increases, it will mean that we have to limit a few things because I have to go to work daily, something I cannot compromise,” he said.
Mr Thato Cossa said that owning a private car cost far more than taking a taxi so this means he won’t have to use his car on daily basis to travel to work. ”I either have to use a taxi or at least join a lift club to save and will also limit having unnecessary trips,” he said.
