ATM Leader Demands Overhaul of South Africa Fuel Pricing
Vuyo Zungula called on Minister Gwede Mantashe to restructure fuel taxes and levies to reduce prices by up to R6 per litre.
Parliamentary leader of the African Transformation Movement Vuyo Zungula demanded that Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe urgently overhaul South Africa's fuel-pricing structure. In a letter dated October 6, 2026, Zungula argued that removing or restructuring specific taxes and levies could lower fuel prices by as much as R6 per litre, offering relief to businesses and households struggling with transport and living costs.
Zungula criticized the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources for missing its 2025/26 target to review the fuel price formula. He specifically challenged the sustainability of emergency fiscal measures, such as the R10bn allocated to the Central Energy Fund, stating that such interventions should not be the permanent mechanism for managing affordability.
To reduce vulnerability to geopolitical shocks and international price volatility, Zungula advocated for the responsible development of domestic oil and gas resources. He has requested a detailed plan from the department outlining the formula review and proposing fiscal alternatives to offset potential revenue losses resulting from tax reductions.
