The Congress of Democratic Taxi Association (Codeta) has raised concerns about the impact of recent fuel price hikes on commuters and taxi operators, warning that fare increases may become unavoidable as costs continue to rise.
Speaking with the People’s Post, Codeta spokesperson Tumana Makhosandilie said the association is under growing pressure, with operators already feeling the strain of higher fuel prices.
Fare concerns
“We are really worried about the petrol hike and how it is going to affect commuters,” Makhosandilie said.
“The people who are going to suffer the most are those in our communities. Even now, we are in a very tight corner.”
This comes after the news that motorists will face significant increases at the pumps from Wednesday as petrol and diesel prices rise by between R3.27 and R6.19 per litre.
The Department of Petroleum and Mineral Resources announced the increases on Monday, attributing them to rising international crude oil prices driven by ongoing tension between the United States and Iran.
The department said the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and damage to crucial infrastructure have affected crude oil supply.
Fuel pressure
Middle distillate prices, which include diesel and paraffin, increased more than petrol prices due to higher demand and reduced supply from the Persian Gulf.
These factors contributed R2.04 per litre to petrol prices, R4.96 per litre to diesel and R4.21 per litre to illuminating paraffin.
READ ALSO: Rising fuel prices set to drive up food and transport costs
The government has extended a R3 decrease in the general fuel levy for petrol and a R3.93 reduction for diesel in an effort to cushion consumers from the full impact of the increases.
Industry strain
While no final decision has been made to raise the taxi fares, Makhosandilie confirmed that discussions around a possible increase are being considered, as some operators have already started raising concerns.
“We are considering raising taxi fares, although we don’t always think it is the right solution. The government is not stepping in to assist us, and we are left with very few options,” he said.
People’s Post reached out to the South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) to hear their comment on the matter but they could not respond before the time of publication.
READ ALSO: Fuel prices to jump by up to R6.19 per litre this week
