By Bhekizenzo Zonele
COSATU is pushing Parliament to fast-track a R10 billion appropriation that it wants used to cushion workers, commuters and small businesses from record fuel-price increases.
The latest hikes take effect on Wednesday, with petrol rising by between R3.12 and R3.33 a litre, depending on the grade, while diesel increases by between R2.84 and R3.24 a litre.
The price of 95 unleaded petrol will increase to a record R30.25 a litre in Gauteng and other inland areas.
COSATU has called for the urgent passage of the Second Special Appropriation (2025/26 Financial Year) Bill, which provides R10 billion for the Central Energy Fund’s Equalisation Fund.
It said households and the economy are already under growing pressure from rising fuel costs, and that workers can spend up to 30% of their income on transport.
Higher fuel costs could also put pressure on taxi and bus fares and increase the cost of food and other goods.
COSATU Parliamentary Coordinator Matthew Parks said in the federation’s statement: “We cannot control the war in the Persian Gulf, but we can control how we protect South Africans.”
The proposed follows an earlier fuel-levy relief programme, of about R17.2 billion, that the federation says helped protect workers, commuters, small businesses and the economy from even higher fuel prices.
COSATU said that relief helped contain inflation and prevented one repo-rate increase.
“This is not just a fuel price issue. It is a cost-of-living crisis,” Parks said.
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