Automobile Association slams new fuel levy hike
JOHANNESBURG - The Automobile Association (AA) has slammed a new fuel levy hike, warning that the move will drive up transport costs, push food prices higher, and place more pressure on already struggling households.
From 4 June, the general fuel levy goes up by 16 cents a litre for petrol, and 15 cents for diesel, marking the first increase in three years.
In his latest version of the country's budget, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana described it as a necessary move to deal with inflationary pressures.
READ: Budget 3.0: Fuel levy will increase again in June, reveals Godongwana
The AA said South Africans are already battling rising interest rates, electricity tariffs, and unemployment, and that adding to the cost of fuel now will have widespread and lasting consequences.
The group warns that lower-income households who spend a larger share of their income on transport will be hardest hit.
It also said the total tax take from fuel, including the Road Accident Fund (RAF) levy, would now exceed R6 per litre in some areas, making up over 30% of the pump price before the actual fuel cost is even factored in.
Spokesperson Eleanor Mavimbela said the AA is calling for a forensic audit into how these funds are spent.
"The AA renews its call for a comprehensive and transparent review of South Africa's fuel pricing model. We stand ready to engage with government and all stakeholders to develop sustainable, transparent, and equitable solutions that support both economic growth and the citizens who drive it."
While the hike may seem modest, the AA said it points to a bigger problem, a tax system that hits motorists first, without a long-term plan for affordable transport or road funding.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
IOL News
an hour ago
- IOL News
Volkswagen still most popular brand for young South Africans, but Suzuki catching up
Polo stands for Popular, among buyers under 35. Image: Supplied For the past 10 years, Volkswagen has been the most popular brand for South Africa's new and used vehicle buyers aged under the age of 35. According to Lightstone, financing data shows that the German brand has consistently remained the top choice for under 35s over the last decade, but below that, the rankings have shifted. Around 2020, Toyota moved from third to second spot on the leaderboard. Most popular car brands among South Africans under 35. Image: Lightstone Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Around this time Suzuki entered the top 10 for the first time and by 2024 it had taken third spot from Ford, which was second in 2015. The Blue Oval's discontinuation of smaller cars like the Fiesta, Figo and EcoSport are likely behind this, although the brand's Ranger bakkie remains immensely popular. Chery and Haval have also entered the top 10 in recent years, ranking eighth and ninth respectively in 2025, behind Hyundai, BMW and Nissan. BMW fell from fourth to sixth place between 2015 and 2025, while Chevrolet, fifth in 2015, fell rapidly off the list following the brand's discontinuation in 2017. Kia and Mazda have also fallen out of the top 10 in the past decade. The study did not show any specific model preferences among the brands, but given that the Volkswagen Polo Vivo has consistently been South Africa's most popular new passenger car model during this time period, it is likely favoured among the youth too. As for vehicle types, SUVs and crossover-type vehicles overtook hatchbacks as the most popular body style in 2024. These two formats account for 80% of sales to buyers under 35, with double cabs emerging in third, albeit with a share of less than 10%. Premium brands remain popular Interestingly, the Lightstone data also shows that since 2015 there has been a gradual increase in the average price point at which younger buyers were prepared to finance a vehicle, with this number rising from R200,000 to R321,500. This outpaces the inflation rate by just over R5,000. ALSO READ: All you need to know about May 2025's vehicle sales, including the 50 top sellers Premium vehicle brands also remain popular, albeit to a lesser extent, as Lightstone's automotive data analyst Andrew Hibbert explains. There is still a demand for premium brands amongst the younger consumers as both Audi and BMW have retained spots inside the Top 10 over the past decade, although they have shifted slightly from where they were in 2015,' Hibbert said. The percentage of female finance applicants has increased over the last decade. Image: Lightstone The Lightstone data analysis also showed some positive momentum on the gender front. In 2015, just 35% of finance applicants below the age of 35 were women, but this has gradually grown to 40% over the past 10 years. IOL
IOL News
2 hours ago
- IOL News
Starlink on their mind: What's @Trending in Mzansi
Starlink founder and owner Elon Musk's Starlink is a hot top, with X users divided on whether we need it or not Starlink is trending again, this time over whether South Africa needs it. Social media users on X share their views: @WillarShoko Eswathini now has an average download speed of 255-355 Mbps, faster than all states in America. This has been made possible by utilising local infrastructure in Southern Africa. Data centres, IXPs, and fibre in both Mozambique and South Africa. It's possible for the whole of Africa to have better Starlink internet than the rest of the world by embracing technology and approving Starlink in Africa as a continent. The approval can be done today; any other option will probably take forever, be more costly, and will significantly widen the gap. All Chinese students are learning AI today, most Africa's students don't have access to the internet. @JenPeremore South Africans deserve Starlink operating in South Africa which will provide access to internet to rural communities, and access to news which gives a platform to a range of voices even government-opposing voices because that is what democracy is about and that is what freedom of speech is about. All the major network providers including Vodacom, CellC, MTN and Telkom must step aside and let Starlink operate in SA, because having Starlink operate in SA is not about protecting corporate interests but about the freedom of all South Africans. It's about access to unbiased information, a range of voices and empowering all Soutb Africans. BEE is not empowering anyone. @chante75967 If China had a superior technology to @Starlink, comrade @CyrilRamaphosa would've allowed it. He clings to local cellular service providers because it's keeping him rich. We do want Starlink, @elonmusk. South Africa is falling behind technologically. @Maso_241119 Not sure about Congo, but South Africa has one of the fastest internets in the world, and not as expensive as Starlink at that. Yet Elon forces his way through as if we need his internet, we don't. @mat24486 What's the obsession with Starlink. Most people don't even know why they want Starlink in SA. Every time I hear Starlink and South Africa in a sentence, it feels like there's something deeper than that. @Butch89803114 Old trick by ANC CRIMINALS to keep Starlink out of South Africa using techniques from an old bag of tricks to indefinitely delay Starlink's ability to enter the country without going through middlemen.-and will PUNISH THE MIDDLEMAN and all in South Africa. DAILY NEWS
The South African
2 hours ago
- The South African
Vincent Tshituka scores big ambassadorship post Sharks
Vincent Tshituka, known for his powerful presence on the rugby field with the Sharks, has quickly become a household name across KwaZulu-Natal and beyond. Now, he's stepping into the property world as the official brand ambassador for the Devmco Group, one of KwaZulu-Natal's leading master developers. This new role marks an exciting chapter for Vincent, who is keen to build a future beyond rugby. 'I'm excited about my ambassador role with Devmco Group,' Vincent shares. 'I've already learnt so much about property and development through my involvement in the Salt Rock City project. I want this partnership to benefit everyone involved. I need to give back as much as I gain. I'm committed to learning and getting stuck into the details of their projects.' Vincent's enthusiasm for property development is clear. He's not content with just lending his name. Instead, he's diving deep into understanding the property cycle and development processes. His hands-on approach will see him working closely with the team behind the Sibaya Coastal Precinct, a flagship development that's reshaping the KwaZulu-Natal coastline. Schalk Theunissen, Managing Director of Devmco Group, praises the partnership. 'Vincent brings more than fame. He brings authenticity and a grounded presence to a sector often filled with jargon. We're proud to have him on board. Our goal is to build communities, educate buyers, and help people make smarter property decisions. Vincent shares these values. He's thoughtful and driven to understand this world and share that knowledge with his teammates and the wider community.' Vincent's journey is inspiring. Born in Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo, and raised in Johannesburg, he has risen through the ranks of South African rugby, according to Sharks Rugby . Highlights include co-captaining the Sharks to a Currie Cup victory and debuting for the Lions Super Rugby team in 2019. His recent Springbok training camp inclusion is a career milestone, signalling more exciting times ahead. This partnership between Vincent and Devmco Group grew naturally. Both parties bonded over shared values—community impact, growth, and the critical need for property education. Vincent's involvement in the Salt Rock City launch showcased the genuine synergy between the athlete and the developer. 'Vincent's role goes beyond just representing a brand,' Theunissen adds. 'He's part of something meaningful. Following the successful Salt Rock City launch, we're thrilled to have him involved in the upcoming release of the final residential opportunities at Salta Estate, Sibaya. Devmco Group is known for bold, people-centred developments across KwaZulu-Natal. Their mission is clear: put people and purpose at the heart of real estate. With Vincent Tshituka on board, they're setting the stage for a new era. One where collaboration meets education, and where South Africans can make informed, meaningful decisions about their property futures. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
