Dear Editor
Between February and April 2024, South Africans have not only been paying more for fuel but they are now spending a considerable portion of their income on the most expensive fuel on record. The inland price for 95 unleaded petrol, which has jumped by over 30% since President Cyril Ramaphosa was inaugurated in May 2019, now costs a staggering R25.12 a liter.
Consumers are paying for overpriced fuel because the ANC government has, over the years, become hooked on fuel levies to fund a bloated government and out of control spending. The general fuel levy alone adds R3,95 to the fuel retail price – an amount that has inflated the price of fuel to the point of unaffordability.
The Minister of Energy, Gwede Mantashe’s favourite scapegoat for the fuel price swings – the international price of crude oil – is a lazy cop-out and can no longer go unchallenged. If the ANC government was committed to providing relief to consumers on the fuel price, they would have heeded DA calls to revise the fuel pricing methodology and do away with administrative levies that are inflating the price.
The ANC government has lost the confidence of the governed and South Africans have an opportunity to vote them out on 29 May 2024. The DA is the only party with a plan to rationalise the fuel pricing system in South Africa that will grow the economy and provide relief to consumers.
Regards
Kevin Mileham MP
DA Shadow Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy
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Interview with a pirate:
There was a pirate who had agreed to do an interview with a local tv station. The reporter was very courteous and professional, giving a bit of background as to the pirate\’s business. She then began interviewing him.
\”So Mr. Longbeard, are there any risks to your business? I see you have a peg leg- how did that come about?\”
\”Well, y\’see I were sailing along the coast of South Africa, looking to plunder some locals when as I boarded the small boat from the ship, a great white shark came up and got my leg clean off. \’twas scary yes, but thus is the life of a pirate.\”
\”Wow, that is pretty scary- well, how about your hook? What happened to your hand with that?\”
\”Oh now that\’s quite the tale, y\’see I were fighting a rival pirate, and we had locked swords. We had been fighting for a few hours, and were both terribly fatigued. I had a bit of exhaustion and confusion, and when I went to block one of his sword blows, I met him with me hand instead of me sword. Took it right off, but it shocked him so much I managed to get him back pretty good and have him submit. So the hook hand was given as a replacement.\”
\”Wow. Simply fascinating. Now, what about your eye patch? How did that happen?\”
\”Well, one day, a seagull was flying overhead, and I looked up. It pooped right in me eye.\”
\”… Well wow. I must admit, I wouldn\’t think just seagull poop could damage the eye that badly.\”
\”Oh, I forgot to mention… it were me first day with the hook.\”
kickstart
Fun South African Fact: What about beer? South African brewery SABMiller ranks – by volume – as the largest brewing company in the world. Saffers love their beer…but the real reason the brewery is so big? SABMiller also supplies up to 50% of China’s beer.