Fuel price hike: Calls for COSATU to join national shutdown
SA’s two biggest taxi associations SANTACO and NTA are lobbying for COSATU to join in on the national shutdown over fuel costs.
SANTACO and the National Taxi Alliance (NTA) want the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) to join the national shutdown over the rising cost of fuel in the country.
SANTACO and NTA want more to join in on the national shutdown
The two associations are South Africa’s biggest taxi groups and are lobbying for other civic groups to join the shutdown. SANTACO and NTA say that the increase in fuel costs has made the cost of living unaffordable.
The associations explained that the rising costs are killing their businesses and putting more strain on commuters. Both SANTACO and the NTA confirmed that taxi prices will be increased in the coming weeks.
Taxi operators and commuters are feeling the strain of the fuel hike
The NTA’s Theo Malele said that the fuel levy relief by the SA government is not enough to soften the insane blow being felt by the skyrocketing prices of fuel. Bafana Magagula of SANTACO explained things from the point of taxi operators.
Magagula says the increase has put pressure on their businesses. He shared that repossession is rife but nobody wants to listen. Adding that the repossessions are caused by the increase in fuel prices, reports SABC News.
Cosatu calls on Government to EXTEND fuel levy reduction
Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) has made calls for the Government to extend the temporary fuel level reduction. The trade union federation wants the fuel levy reduction of R1.50 to go beyond 31 May.
Cosatu also wants the Government to use the time of the extension to look at a more sustainable solution to the fuel price in South Africa. The federation was holding a media briefing in Johannesburg on Thursday, 26 May.
This follows its central executive committee meeting that happened earlier this week. Cosatu Secretary-General Bheki Ntshalintshali said they are calling on the Government to take drastic steps to fix the problems being faced.
SA COULD SLASH 33% OFF ITS FUEL PRICE – IF THESE PROPOSALS ARE ACCEPTED
Make no bones about it, the petrol price situation in South Africa is becoming traumatic. Nightmare fuel costs, and their knock-on effects, are threatening to put millions of citizens on the brink. But could these new proposals help ease the burden?
The DA believes it has an enactable plan that can relieve the pressure on households across the country. They are lobbying Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana, asking him to consider scrapping ALL TAXES AND LEVIES on the current petrol price.
The basic fuel price is related to the costs of purchasing petroleum products from international markets, and the costs related to shipping these products to South Africa. That makes up almost HALF of the total value. Read the full story here.