Govt to soften the blow of fuel price hikes - Ramaphosa
President Cyril Ramaphosa says the government is looking at ways to soften the blow on consumers amid rocketing fuel prices.
Ramaphosa was speaking during the official state visit of the Ghanian President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in Pretoria on Thursday.
Ramaphosa called on food retailers and food producers to not immediately hike their prices.
"This fuel price increase should not automatically lead to the increased living conditions or prices for our people,” Ramaphosa said.
The president stressed that government is considering ways to ease the pressure on hard-pressed consumers.
Meanwhile, the leader of Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Julius Malema has blamed the recent spate of fuel price hikes squarely at Ramaphosa’s door.
Speaking at the party's media briefing in Braamfontein, Malema called on voters to reject Ramaphosa's presidency when they vote in the 2019 elections.
"By raising petrol prices after all other taxes on individuals, the Ramaphosa government is doing everything in its power to milk the poor of their last cent.”
Malema believes, by raising petrol prices, the government is already undermining the proposed minimum wage of R20 an hour.
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