The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy has announced that a litre of petrol will increase by R 2.43.

Capetonians will now pay almost R 24 for a litre of petrol as of June 1st. This as diesel will go up by R 1.10 a litre, while the paraffin price will increase by R 1.56 a litre.

South Africans have been agonising about the high cost of petrol this month. Treasury had earlier announced an extension of the fuel levy reduction by two months. It was cut by R1.50 a litre for April and May as government sought to relieve the economic stress of surging fuel prices.

Now the South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) says that this is also the time of year that it considers fare hikes that come into effect in June and July.

Santaco’s Bafana Magagula says that a hike is inevitable. However, he has warned that the fuel price hike will cause a sharper taxi fare increase.

This as Golden Arrow Bus commuters will not yet be affected by the fuel price increase. The bus service has benefited from a Western Cape government subsidy.