Judgement Day is upon us once again. The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy has arrived, just like the ancient texts (the Central Energy Fund) said it would. It’s come to deliver the people of South Africa the upcoming month’s petrol and diesel prices no matter if they’re good or bad. This time around… it’s a bit of both.
If you hadn’t already guessed, petrol drivers are once again taking the brunt of the Department’s lust for money, while diesel drivers continue to be favoured. It’s fine. We’re used to it by now.
Obviously, the Department has no real sway over the outcome of a month’s fuel prices. That’s decided by the current and ever-changing price of refined oil and the US Dollar/Rand exchange needed to purchase it. Still, it’s hard to pretend it doesn’t sting just a little. Even so, you should probably fill up later today if you’re dependent on petrol getting you around the place.
Getting lost in the savings
From 00:01 in the morning of Wednesday, 03 May, petroleum-based fuels will see the following increases:
- Petrol 95: increase of 37 cents per litre (R0.37)
- Petrol 93: increase of 37 cents per litre (R0.37)
- Diesel 0.05%: decrease of 73 cents per litre (R0.73)
- Diesel 0.005%: decrease of 33 cents per litre (R0.33)
- Illuminating Paraffin: decrease of 33 cents per litre (R0.33)
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Despite our complaints, a 37c increase in petrol prices isn’t the end of the world. It just means an extra twenty minutes to get home, along with a more expensive fill-up when the time does eventually roll around again.
That being said, let’s all collectively hope for a decrease by the time the Department announces June’s official fuel prices. We wouldn’t mind seeing a slight increase for those diesel drivers either. But it’s not like the Department would take sides, right?
Source: Central Energy Fund