The impermanence of things should be understood for what it is: impermanent. It is becoming increasingly difficult to keep up with the unpredictability of fuel prices. The reprieve from fuel increases that South Africans enjoyed in the past four months is being pulled right out from under their feet as petrol and diesel prices spiked from midnight on Tuesday.
The department of mineral resources and energy this week announced that 93-octane unleaded petrol will go up by 55c per litre and 95-octane by 52c, while diesel users will suffer a slightly heavier increase of 84c per litre for 50 ppm and 82c for 500 ppm Meanwhile, illuminating paraffin, which is a lifeline for poor people in this country, will rise by 63c.
This ripple effect on the consumer was blamed on the tensions in the Middle East and the US military action against Iranian nuclear facilities, which triggered a surge in oil prices.
This kind of technical explanation is one that the consumer has come to expect. However, what complicates it is that it comes when reports say the rand has strengthened against the US dollar. Which then begs the question: if the currency has gained ground, why the increase? Was the level of strengthening lower than required? Or has it simply happened after the review period?
Fuel is not a luxury but a core driver of the economy of this country; if you make that inaccessible, you are throttling the survival and productivity of the already struggling labour force and public
The permutations are neither adequately explained nor sufficiently understood by the majority of citizens.
These increases are not only inconvenient but are also punitive to the poor and working-class population of this country. Paraffin has cemented itself as a primary source of energy for poor households who use it for cooking and heating. Meanwhile, as the food basket continues to shrink and many households cannot keep up with the cost of living, the added cost highlights how the pricing model is not only rigid but outdated and regressive.
It is running a parallel operation from the lived realities of a people who are unemployed and striving to make ends meet within a stagnant economy. Though the fuel price can be structurally and technically blamed on global oil markets, our local policies shaped by levy, tax and profit margin factors are not protecting the consumer.
It cannot be acceptable that there are no proactive measures taken by the government to cushion the poor from the impact. Where are the subsidies for the poorest? Where is the fuel price review long promised by successive energy ministers? Why are we not fast-tracking sustainable alternatives, investing in public transport, or rethinking the fuel levy structure?
South Africans deserve more than a technical press release, which does not take into account that we are already running on empty. Fuel is not a luxury but a core driver of the economy of this country; if you make that inaccessible, you are throttling the survival and productivity of the already struggling labour force and public. Fuel is an essential component of the daily operations of this country and should be treated with the same energy.
These are not just numbers but a dent on the already failing programme of economic inclusion.
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