Tshwane: President Cyril Ramaphosa has established a ministerial task team to coordinate government action to cushion South Africans against the impact of the war in the Middle East, which has triggered rising costs of fuel.
According to South African Government News Agency, Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, led a post-Cabinet media briefing on Thursday, outlining the task team's responsibilities. The ongoing conflict involving Israel, the United States, and Iran has strained global crude oil supply chains, leading to increased local fuel prices.
The task team includes Minerals and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe as chairperson, along with other key ministers such as Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana, Minister of Transport Barbara Creecy, and Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Parks Tau. The team also comprises the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola, Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen, Minister of Electricity and Energy Dr. Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Willie Aucamp, and the Presidency.
Ntshavheni stated that the task team is tasked with coordinating the government's response holistically to mitigate the impact on the cost of living, fuel, and food security. As an immediate intervention, the task team recommended a reduction in the fuel levy to alleviate the impact of fuel price increases that took effect on Wednesday.
The reduction in the general fuel levy, announced on Tuesday, will see the levy drop from R4.10 per litre to R1.10 per litre of petrol and from R3.93 to R0.93 per litre of diesel, reducing the burden on consumers.
Despite these challenges, Ntshavheni assured South Africans that fuel supply remains stable, attributing dry fuel stations to logistics constraints caused by panic buying and fuel hoarding. The Minister discouraged these practices, emphasizing the adequacy of the country's fuel supply and the government's plans to ensure continued stability.
The Cabinet has called for an immediate ceasefire in the conflict between Iran, Israel, and the US and remains informed about the security of domestic fuel supply, which is affected by the ongoing war. South Africa relies on the Middle East only for refined products, and the country's fuel system remains supply adequate for the immediate period.