Cape Town - Petrol, diesel and illuminating paraffin will all see a price drop today according to prices published by the Department of Energy.
This follow’s the last adjustment in September announced by Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe.
The price of petrol will decrease by around R1.85 per litre, diesel will decrease by between R2.47 and R2.59 per litre and illuminating paraffin will decrease by around R1.93 per litre.
For coastal motorists, this means unleaded will set them back R20.92 a litre while inland motorists will have to fork out R21.57 a litre. Diesel is expected to adjust to R21.47 a litre.
The price drop comes in the midst of South Africans feeling the pinch on their cost of living.
In November, the Cape Chamber of Commerce said: “The government’s track record of running economic entities like Eskom and the hundreds of other state-owned enterprises constantly broadcasts negative signals to potential investors and all foreigners. Their opinion, among other things, affects the value of the rand.”
But all is not lost as the price adjustment follows as a result of a strengthening rand.
The Automobile Association said: “These decreases will not take fuel prices to levels seen in January 2022 but will, nonetheless, go a long way to alleviating the fuel price burden – and its associated impact on other prices – felt by millions of South Africans.
“For many travellers who are currently on vacation this is also good news as it will undoubtedly reduce expenses on the return leg of their journeys.”
On Tuesday, Western Cape Mobility spokesperson Jandre Bakker said the Western Cape had seen significant increases in the number of motorists as tourists pour in and out.
“Western Cape roads are still calm after a busy day yesterday with traffic volumes on mainly coastal routes being quite high, with especially day visitors,” he said.
Bakker said around 2 500 motorists were recorded travelling on Sir Lowry’s Pass towards Cape Town while 3 000 vehicles were recorded travelling outbound.
Bakker said high numbers of road users were expected next weekend as people made their way home.