South African motorists could be hit by fuel price hikes of “catastrophic proportions” in November, the Automobile Association (AA) has warned.
The anticipated increases are primarily due to surging oil prices, coupled with a weakening Rand.
The organisation warned the current data showed that petrol could go up by 99c per litre, while diesel and illuminating paraffin could increase by R1.42 a litre.
“This will push 95 unleaded petrol (ULP) inland above R19 per litre (close to R19.30 per litre), and diesel to R17 per litre,” the AA said.
“Taking this potential increase into account, the price of a litre of 95 ULP would have increased from R14.86 per litre in January to R19.30 per litre in November – a 30% increase over 11 months.”
The AA also highlighted that the increases in diesel and illuminating paraffin prices would be the biggest in South Africa’s history, considering that the current estimates were only based on half a month’s data.
It added that R20 a litre for petrol was now a “realistic scenario” before the end of 2021.
The AA also warned there was little hope of improvement in the expected prices before the end of October.
While these factors are largely outside of South Africa’s control, the AA said South Africans could blame the government for the weak performance of the rand.
The Rand to US dollar exchange rate has jumped from around R14,55 to R14.90 over the first half of October, adding to the expected increases.
It added there was also uncertainty regarding changes to the Slate Levy.-mybroadband
