Members of the public and civil society organisations, who this week gathered for a public meeting at the Athlone Stadium as a collective, are calling for a decrease in fuel prices. A new movement called the People against Petrol and Paraffin Price Increases launched a petition in protest against the high cost of living and have called for a National Day of Action on July 2, 2018.

South Africa’s fuel price hit another record high when the Department of Energy announced that petrol would increase by 82 cents a litre for both 93 and 05 octane fuel, while diesel increased by between 85 and 87 cents per litre, and illuminating paraffin by 82 cents by June 6 this year.

National convenor for the movement, Visvin Reddy, explained that members of the public were left in shock when the price of fuel was increased without due consultation on June 6.

“We are a lobby group that has been formed to partition government to enter into a consultation process before making such decisions about increases in fuel.”

Reddy said citizens can participate in the protest by signing the online petition and wearing black on Monday, July 2.

“It’s nationwide; the simplest thing that everybody can do is wearing black. By wearing black you send a message that you support the campaign to bring fuel prices down.

“We saying organize yourselves into groups of people and arrange placard demonstrations at busy corners and busy spots between 07h00 and 08h00n” Reddy stated.

VOC 91.3fm