It is no secret that fuel prices, especially since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, have left motorists with empty wallets, and knotted stomachs.
However, localising the effect the fuel price has on surrounding individuals, TygerBurger interviewed local non-governmental organisations (NGO’s) including Table View Neighbourhood Watch, Cheryl Lyn’s Rescue Organisation, and Don’s Fresh Produce, bringing the problem closer to home.
Minister Gwede Mantashe announced an adjusted fuel price from 1 June, ranging from R23,09 to R24,17 with a possibility of an even further increase in July.
“This is the straw that will break the camel’s back,” local NGOs echoed to TygerBurger, indicating a hopelessness towards the current stance of the South African economy.
“Our volunteers have found it extremely difficult to absorb the extra cost of the many fuel hikes recently,” Laura Outhet, spokesperson of Table View Neighbourhood Watch, said.
Outhet explained that no portion of the NGO’s fundraising goes towards the volunteers expenses, may it be fuel or personal gear such as reflective gear.
“Two of the main objectives of being a volunteer for any neighbourhood watch is being the eyes and ears for your local police station as well as potentially preventing crimes from happening by being visible through patrolling,” Outhet explained.
The recent fuel price hike makes it extremely difficult for the much needed volunteers to continue patrolling, rather choosing personal expenses above volunteer work.
“Table View Neighbourhood Watch’s approach to the fuel hikes is to encourage our volunteers to buddy up and share fuel costs, and go on more foot or bike patrols,” Outhet said.
Cheryl Lyn Potgieter, head of Cheryl Lyn’s Rescue Organisation, told TygerBurger that the recent fuel price hike is costing the NGO an “arm and a leg”, and creating a “crippling effect” on the organisation’s finances.
“I am driving from Klein Dassenberg to Table View and surrounds every day, which currently costs me R500 every two and a half days,” Potgieter said.
This amounts to a staggering R6 000 a month, which makes it very difficult for the NGO, who receives no government funding to assist abused and neglected animals.
Potgieter indicated that this has been the first time in years the organisation could not afford to pay its vet bill, due to the heightened fuel price, making it increasingly difficult to serve animals in need.
However, Potgieter said that the public “have been phenomenal” with donating all sorts of things to the organisation, which made this fuel hike somewhat affordable.
Upon asking what will happen to the organisation when the fuel price increases even higher in the coming months, Potgieter explained that “she will still do her job” of serving the community’s abused and neglected animals while relying heavily on the community’s monetary assistance. Should you want to donate, or volunteer to either of these much needed and important NGOs, contact them through their Facebook pages.
