Cabinet unmoved by EFF's looming fuel levy increase court challenge; says Malema's party is entitled to pursue litigation

MINISTER in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni says the EFF was within its rights to approach the courts over the increase in the fuel levy proposed by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana.

- MAYIBONGWE MAQHINA

Addressing the media after Wednesday’s Cabinet meeting, Ntshavheni said she had no idea what argument the EFF had made in their court papers.

“But we have always had a fuel levy in this country as government, and shortly we will come back on the implication of the fuel levy on the fuel prices in the country as we try to mitigate the high cost of living.

“They can go to court. They are entitled to go to court, but it does not stop us from proposing a budget. The fuel levy has been part of the budget of South Africa since time immemorial,” she said.

Ntshavheni made the comments after the EFF announced that it had filed an urgent application in the Western Cape High Court yesterday to interdict Godongwana from increasing the fuel levy by 16 cents and diesel by 15 cents. Godongwana had announced the proposed fuel levy when he tabled the budget earlier this month after he scrapped the VAT increased amid a court case that was instituted by the EFF and the DA as well as negotiations between the ANC and smaller parties.