Tuesday, 31 March 2026.

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) notes the decision by government to introduce a temporary reduction in the general fuel levy as an emergency measure to cushion South Africans from the devastating fuel price increases expected in April 2026.

This intervention, which reduces the fuel levy by approximately R3 per litre, must be understood as a direct consequence of sustained public pressure and the undeniable reality that fuel price increases are pushing the working class into deeper poverty. Even with this intervention, South Africans are still expected to face massive increases of over R3 per litre for petrol and more than R7 per litre for diesel, confirming the severity of the crisis.

This intervention is necessary as a partial concession to our long-standing demands for relief from excessive fuel costs. However, we emphasise that this measure is temporary, with government itself indicating that it will only provide relief until 5 May 2026. This is merely a postponement of the burden that will once again be imposed on the people.

The EFF further notes that fuel price increases are not merely the result of global conditions, but are significantly driven by deliberate increases in fuel taxes and levies by National Treasury. In the 2025 financial year, the general fuel levy was increased by 16 cents per litre, and in the 2026 Budget, it was increased again by approximately 21 cents per litre, including the carbon fuel and Road Accident Fund (RAF) levies. These cumulative increases demonstrate a pattern of using fuel as a taxation instrument to balance the fiscus at the expense of the poor.

The EFF has consistently argued that the Minister of Finance’s unilateral determination of fuel levies bypasses Parliament and undermines constitutional principles. In fact, we are currently before the courts in a legal challenge against the fuel levy in its totality and to highlight that there can be no taxation without representation, and that fiscal decisions affecting millions of South Africans must be subject to democratic oversight.

The recent judgment of the Western Cape High Court on Value-Added Tax (VAT) has decisively affirmed this principle as the court found that the unilateral power of the Minister of Finance to determine VAT rates is unconstitutional, and reaffirmed that the authority to impose, increase, or abolish taxes lies with Parliament. This judgment now provides a firm legal foundation to challenge this practice, and will bolster our case that fuel levy increases must be subjected to parliamentary approval.

The working class of South Africa cannot be subjected to a cycle of permanent increases followed by temporary relief. There should be a permanent removal of the fuel levy, and the government must abandon its reliance on taxes as an easy revenue source and instead, pursue progressive alternatives that do not punish the poor.

The EFF, therefore, look forward to continuing with our court challenge to the fuel levy whose positive outcome will bring real material relief to South Africans, as opposed to this mere plaster on the wound of suffering our people face.