The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has today filed an urgent application in the Western Cape High Court to interdict the Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana from increasing the fuel levy by 16 cents per litre on petrol and 15 cents per litre on diesel, as announced in the 2025 Budget Speech that is supposed to come into effect on the 4th of June 2024.
We took this action after repeated efforts to caution the Minister and appeal to his conscience failed. We wrote to the Minister, urging him to consider the impact of this increase on the poor and working-class people of South Africa, especially during a time when the cost-of-living crisis is deepening. We also reminded him that, just like the VAT increase, raising the fuel levy without introducing a proper Money Bill is unlawful and undermines parliamentary oversight.
Despite this, the Minister appears determined to force through the fuel levy increase following the defeat of the VAT hike, which was rejected by Parliament and the broader public. The same constitutional, economic, and procedural reasons that led to the rejection of the VAT increase also apply to the fuel levy increase — even if this is not immediately obvious to majority of political parties in Parliament and those who made submissions during public hearings on the 2025 Fiscal Framework and Revenue Proposals in Parliament.
The EFF has also written to the Speaker of the National Assembly and the Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Finance. We warned them that if Parliament proceeds to adopt the 2025 Fiscal Framework and Revenue Proposals that include this illegal fuel levy increase, the entire budget process will be placed in jeopardy.
Allowing such an increase without a Money Bill risks the entire national budget being declared invalid by the courts — potentially long after funds have already been spent. This would severely damage the constitutional standing of Parliament, undermine financial accountability, and cause serious consequences for service delivery and public confidence in government.
This matter is urgent not just because of its legal implications, but because the fuel levy directly affects the price of transport, food, and other essentials. Any increase will hit the poorest the hardest. We will not sit back while the budget process is hijacked by technocrats, bypassing democratic processes and proper consultation. The EFF remains committed to defending the Constitution and protecting the economic interests of our people.
We call on Parliament to act responsibly and, on the Minister, to withdraw this reckless decision before more damage is done.
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