Fuel price scant relief

Though welcome, decrease won't make discernible difference.

- Ina Opperman

AIthough consumers have been paying less for fuel since Wednesday, it will not make up for the electricity price hikes they have to deal with, especially since the latest Nersa (National Energy Regulator of SA) electricity tariff increase that has the country up in arms.

Consumers now pay R1.06 less per litre for 95 unleaded and R1.14 less for 93 unleaded petrol, while diesel is between R1.12 and R1.14 per litre cheaper.

This means one pays R20.73 for a litre of 93 unleaded at the pumps and R21.05 for 95 unleaded, the lowest prices so far this year.

This is the fifth consecutive decrease in as many months and could not be more welcome, Neil Roets, CEO of Debt Rescue, says.

"South Africans are desperate for any relief that will enable them to dig their way out of indebtedness and poverty caused by the exorbitant and continual cost of living increases that have all but decimated the state of their finances."