Motorists in Qgeberha won’t benefit from the full fuel price decrease in October. File picture: Newspress
Motorists in the Nelson Mandela Bay metropolitan area won’t enjoy the full fuel price relief that was announced for the rest of South Africa from Wednesday, October 2.
A damaged tanker berth in the Port Elizabeth Harbour means that fuel is now being transported into the metro from East London.
“The Port of Port Elizabeth (PE) has been temporarily closed due to an incident that occurred at the Port in June 2024. The Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy has approved the implementation of the revised transport tariffs into the petrol, diesel and Illuminating Paraffin (IP) price structures as an interim measure until the Port of PE is operational, with effect from the 2nd of October 2024,” the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy said in a statement.
This means Qgeberha residents won’t reap the full benefit of the significant fuel price cuts that came into effect around South Africa on Wednesday, with 95 Unleaded petrol decreasing by R1.14 per litre and diesel dropping by between R1.12 (50ppm) and R1.14 (500ppm).
This additional cost varies between regions. In practical terms, those motorists in the Bay area were given an 83 cents reduction (instead of the SA-wide R1.14), while those in Kariega received a reduction of just 50 cents and Kirkwood residents made do with just 45 cents, said the NMB Business Chamber's chief executive Denise Van Huyssteen.
“The Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber notes with extreme concern that revised transport tariffs have been implemented into the prices for petrol, diesel and paraffin price structures for the metro and surrounding areas as from today,” van Huyssteen said.
“This unilateral and unjust decision does not take into account the fact that Nelson Mandela Bay is in recession and has among the highest unemployment rates in the country. Equally worrying, the accountability for the issue has simply been transferred to consumers and businesses who are already reeling from the consequences of the recent massive electricity price increases and other factors affecting the cost of living and the costs associated with operating businesses.
“While we understand that this pricing structure is of a temporary nature, and that once the berth is fixed the area will return back to its former allotted zone, this decision will still have a permanent effect and may potentially impact upon future fuel pricing adjustments,” van Huyssteen added.
Transnet regional manager Pamela Yoyo told the Daily Maverick that repair works were due to be completed at the Port Elizabeth Harbour by November 2024, with the berth likely to be recommissioned in the early part of December.
IOL
Related Topics: