Civil groups and unions urge government to act on soaring fuel prices

What protesters and organisations are asking for

Protest actions staged by Concerned Citizens were aimed at drawing attention to the immediate burden of fuel on motorists and commuters. Civil society groups and unions urged the government to move quickly to ease that burden through fiscal relief and policy changes.

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) said it wants the government to deploy an existing pool of money to provide relief. Cosatu wants R10 billion already earmarked for fuel price relief to be used to reduce the pressure on motorists, the union said.

At the same time, AfriForum argued that tax policy is a lever the state can use to lower prices at the pump. AfriForum’s head of public relations, Ernst van Zyl, said the fuel price could be as much as R6 cheaper if the government were willing to cut taxes on fuel. He described AfriForum’s long-standing call for a permanent cut to the fuel levy and said the organisation is conducting an investigation into how levies are calculated and applied.

“That’s why AfriForum has been calling for a long-term, ideally permanent, fuel levy cut since March. AfriForum is conducting an investigation into fuel prices and the associated levies to help build the foundation for long-term fuel price reform,”

Transport sector warnings and the cost to households

The Automobile Association (AA) urged broader policy thinking during Transport Month, arguing that fuel measures alone will not resolve deeper problems in how mobility is funded and delivered. AA CEO Bobby Ramagwede cited national data showing that South African households spend an average of 16% of total expenditure on mobility, notably higher than the government’s 10% policy ceiling.

“For the poorest workers and those living outside economic hubs, the situation is disastrous,”

Ramagwede highlighted the knock-on effects of high transport costs on low-income workers. He referenced affordability tracking by the Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity Group (PMBEJD), which shows that transport and electricity together can consume up to 64.6% of the national minimum wage. Under the national minimum wage figure cited in the reporting, R5 078, an average worker pays about R1 520 on transport, leaving under R1 800 to cover other needs for the month.

Ramagwede described how spatial patterns of work and housing increase costs for the working class, forcing many commuters to pay multiple fares each day. The example given in the reporting described commuters taking two minibus taxis each way; a commuter paying R18 per leg therefore spends R72 daily, which translates to roughly R1 580 monthly in cash fares.

Public transport and subsidies

The AA noted that the minibus taxi industry carries a large share of public transport users over 80% yet receives no direct operational subsidies from the state. As a result, commuters feel every rise in fuel price directly and immediately because there is no financial buffer for the industry that serves them.

Wider human impact highlighted

Reporting included concerns about how elevated transport and utility costs affect nutrition and child development. Health research cited in the coverage noted that over 25% of South African boys under age five suffer from stunting, which was linked to families unable to afford nutritious food after paying transit fares and utilities.

The PMBEJD further reported that a basic nutritional food basket for a family of four costs roughly R3 800 monthly, while minimum-wage earners were said to be left with less than half that amount after commuting costs. Those figures were used by campaigners to underline how fuel and transport costs are squeezing household budgets and contributing to food insecurity.

Calls for structural change and immediate relief

Beyond immediate relief such as deploying funds already set aside and considering levy cuts organisations urged the government to rethink long-term mobility funding and priorities. The AA criticised the state’s investment choices, singling out large-scale projects as examples of spending that did not directly relieve daily transport costs for the majority of users.

“South Africa has engineered a structural poverty trap on wheels,”

That framing links current fuel-price pressure to broader policy and planning issues: when transport systems and funding models fail to prioritise affordability and access, low-income households bear a disproportionate share of the cost.

What this means for the public

The calls from unions and civil groups reflect two immediate policy options frequently cited in public debates: using earmarked relief funds to reduce prices now, and changing tax and levy structures to lower the ongoing cost of fuel. Both approaches carry trade-offs and require government decision-making. In the short term, demands for the release of R10 billion and for cuts to levies are concrete proposals being pushed by labour and civil society.

For commuters and motorists, the continuing price trajectory means persistent pressure on household budgets, with transport costs competing directly with food and other essentials. Campaigners warn that without intervention, the economic hardship facing low-income workers and their families will deepen.

Next steps and ongoing coverage

The shutdowns and pickets organised by Concerned Citizens, alongside calls from Cosatu, AfriForum and the AA, are likely to keep fuel policy under public scrutiny. Government response and any concrete measures whether the disbursement of earmarked funds or changes to levies and taxes will determine whether the immediate pressures on commuters and motorists are eased.

JoburgEtc will continue to report as organisations press their demands and as authorities respond with policy decisions or relief measures.