Lower international petrol prices and a stronger rand will be a boost for motorists in March, who will likely see a 70 cents a litre drop in the petrol price, the Automobile Association (AA) said on Friday.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome measure of stability had returned to the fuel price picture,\u201d said the AA.<\/p>\n
The Department of Energy will release the official fuel price rate any time between Friday and Monday and it will be implemented on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
However, the AA warned that Treasury\u2019s decision to add a further 30 cents to the fuel levy could dampen the mood in April, when the measure will be implemented.<\/p>\n
The AA said it was concerning that motorists were again being called upon to fund shortfalls in government revenue.<\/p>\n
“The National Treasury forecasts that the increased levy will add approximately R6.8bn to the fiscus. This revenue is collected from the most economically active and heavily-taxed sector of the population,” the association commented.<\/p>\n
The AA also commented that government appeared uncertain over its approach to increases in the fuel levy.<\/p>\n
“When a moderate increase of 10 cents to 15 cents a litre was proposed to fund the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project, it was rejected by Sanral,” it said.<\/p>\n
The AA said the combined increase in the fuel levy over the past two budgets amounted to 60.5 cents a litre, with an additional 50c a litre going to the Road Accident Fund since 2015.<\/p>\n
Outa chairperson Wayne Duvenage on Wednesday questioned why government could increase the general fuel levy by 60c over two years, but can\u2019t add another 9c to cover e-tolls.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt seems strange government claims it cannot place an additional 9c on the fuel levy to cover e-tolls as this will affect the poor, yet it has no problem increasing the general fuel levy by 60 cents over the past two years,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The AA said a steady appreciation in international diesel prices has meant that diesel will be up by around 15 cents a litre.<\/p>\n
News24<\/a><\/p>\n More on the petrol price<\/strong><\/p>\n How the new fuel levy will hit South Africa\u2019s petrol price<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Here is the expected petrol price for March 2016<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n