EFF heads to court to block fuel levy increase

During his revised budget speech earlier this month, Godongwana proposed that the fuel levy increase by 16 cents per litre on petrol and 15 cents on diesel starting on 5 June.

The EFF says it took legal action after repeated attempts to warn the minister about the impact on the poor and working class were ignored.

 Party spokesperson Sinawo Thambo argues that the hike, like the VAT increase previously proposed,  is unlawful without a proper Money Bill and undermines Parliament’s oversight role.

Godongwana said during this budget that the hikes aim to recoup R1.3 billion in revenue following the unsuccessful attempts to implement an increase in value-added tax.

The revised budget marks the third attempt by the Treasury to pass a legally viable fiscal plan for the 2025/26 financial year.

"We wrote to the minister, urging him to consider the impact of this increase on the poor and working-class people of South Africa, especially during a time when the cost-of-living crisis is deepening,” said Thambo.

"We also reminded him that, just like the VAT increase, raising the fuel levy without introducing a proper Money Bill is unlawful and undermines parliamentary oversight.

"Despite this, the minister appears determined to force through the fuel levy increase following the defeat of the VAT hike, which was rejected by Parliament and the broader public.

" The same constitutional, economic, and procedural reasons that led to the rejection of the VAT increase also apply to the fuel levy increase, even if this is not immediately obvious to majority of political parties in Parliament and those who made submissions during public hearings on the 2025 Fiscal Framework and Revenue Proposals in Parliament," added Thambo.

The party has also written to National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza and the Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Finance, Joe Maswanganyi, warning them of the risks of pushing through the fuel levy hike.

In a letter addressed to the chairperson of Parliament's Standing Committee on Finance, the EFF called for urgent committee attention to the procedural and constitutional implications of the increase.

The party claims the levy, raised by 16 cents per litre for petrol and 15 cents for diesel,  was introduced without parliamentary approval, violating section 77 of the Constitution.

"Allowing such an increase without a Money Bill risks the entire national budget being declared invalid by the courts, potentially long after funds have already been spent,” the EFF stated in the letter.

"This would severely damage the constitutional standing of Parliament, undermine financial accountability, and cause serious consequences for service delivery and public confidence in government.

"This matter is urgent not just because of its legal implications, but because the fuel levy directly affects the price of transport, food, and other essentials. Any increase will hit the poorest the hardest. 

"We will not sit back while the budget process is hijacked by technocrats, bypassing democratic processes and proper consultation.

"We call on Parliament to act responsibly and, on the minister, to withdraw this reckless decision before more damage is done.”

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