THE DA has tabled a Fuel Price Deregulation Bill in parliament in its push to call for the slashing of taxes and levies of fuel to bring the rising costs of food and transport down.
The handing of the bill in parliament yesterday comes in the wake of another fuel price that is set to see the price of petrol per litre rise well beyond R25 a litre. The primary objective of the Bill is to deregulate the fuel sector to increase competition in fuel price setting at both the wholesale and retail level R25 per litre a result, which economists warn it could bring the economy to its knees as the poor are battling with electricity prizes in the midst of massive blackouts.
The party is arguing that deregulating the fuel sector will result in lower petrol prices for consumers, as retailers compete to win customers based on price levels.
“Given that SA will wake up to another hefty fuel price increase that will take the fuel price well beyond R25 a litre, the primary objective of the Bill is to deregulate the fuel sector to increase competition in fuel price setting at both the wholesale and retail level.
“Most consumers are spending a significant part of their salaries on ever-increasing transport, and the frequent fuel price increases are leaving many with little to spend on the equally expensive basic food basket,” the party argues.
The opposition party said the country’s high fuel prices was due to government’s mandated fuel price controls that have killed competition and failed to deliver efficient cost-reflective prices.
It said later this week, the party will publish its “Notice of Intention to Introduce’ in the Government Gazette where the public will be invited to provide comment on the stated aims of our Bill.
“Now the ball is firmly in the ANC government’s court, and it has the chance to do the right thing. The success or failure of regulating the fuel price, now rests with the ANC in Parliament,” it said.
Further, the party has drawn up a petition letter addressed to Minerals and Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe and Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana, with the aim of collecting 140 000 signatures.
“Almost R30 for a litre of fuel?! Further fuel price hikes will push tens of millions of South Africans even deeper into a financial and humanitarian crisis. Co-sign this letter pushing the ANC government to cut the exorbitant taxes on fuel in order to lower the price of fuel, food and the cost of living.
“It’s time for your government to urgently cut the exorbitant taxes on fuel in order to lower the price of fuel, food and the cost of living. The ANC government has uncaringly abused South Africans through the artificially high fuel price for decades. By cutting taxes and levies on fuel, we can easily reduce the cost of fuel by up to a third!,” read the letter.
It argues that to help South Africans afford food and use a taxi, bus or car to get to work and earn a living, the following must happen:
•Introduce urgent legislation to immediately deregulate and reduce the fuel price, which will bring immediate relief for all commuters as retailers compete to offer lower prices.
•Work to reform or replace the bankrupt and mismanaged Road Accident Fund’s levy with a workable system that does not add to the fuel price.
•Call for an urgent debate of national importance in parliament to put pressure on the uncaring ANC government to implement the DA’s caring proposals and
•Introduce a comprehensive rescue plan for South Africa to reduce the cost of living on all fronts.
