JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – APRIL 3: A close-up of a petrol pump at a Shell Garage in Johannesburg, South Africa on April 3, 2012. Petrol prices have gone up just before the Easter holidays. (Photo by Gallo Images / Foto24 / Nicolene Olckers )
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – APRIL 3: A close-up of a petrol pump at a Shell Garage in Johannesburg, South Africa on April 3, 2012. Petrol prices have gone up just before the Easter holidays. (Photo by Gallo Images / Foto24 / Nicolene Olckers )
Petrol prices are forecast to rise to record-high levels for the third month in a row, and motorists are at the end of their tethers.
The People Against Petrol and Paraffin Price Increases (PAPPI) have confirmed that they are planning to “shut down” South Africa’s roads next week, as fuel costs will soar towards the R16.20 mark for some road users. EWN report that the group feel this is the only way to make the government take notice.
National Convenor of PAPPI, Visvin Reddy, has been promising to take action for the last few weeks. It now seems he and his organisation have a plan in place:
“We call upon all South African to join us in our campaign and to switch off their vehicles. Obviously, the roads will be closed on the day and it will not be safe for anyone to leave their homes, so you’re welcome to stay at home or go to a place of worship and pray for the country.”
When will there be petrol price protests?
Reddy claims the group are ready to block major roads across the country from Friday 27 July, without specifying which areas would be targeted.
Pietermaritzburg and Durban saw demonstrations earlier in the week where protesters occupied the N2 and N3. Trucks were parked across the three lanes of the highways as they demanded a decrease in petrol prices.
The effect of today’s petrol price protest. This is the situation on the N3 at Liberty Mall in Pietermaritzburg right now. Photo by Ian Carbutt, Witness chief photographer. pic.twitter.com/6HWRAHbx5v
— The Witness (@WitnessKZN) July 18, 2018
Petrol prices rise for South Africa in August 2018
Taking into account the rand/dollar exchange rate, as well as the international crude oil market, the AA predict a price rise of 19 cents a litre for petrol, 13 cents for diesel, and 22 cents for illuminating paraffin next month.
The negative effect these consecutive hikes have on poor South Africans cannot be understated. Most low-income houses rely on paraffin for heating, lighting and cooking.
