advertisement
advertisement
By Nokuphila Haji | 2025-04-04
The Eswatini Road Transport Council will have no option but to effect a 100 per cent bus fare hike henceforth.
This follows the 40 cents per litre roads authority levy, which kicked in at midnight.
The Council said the hike would help them cater for all the costs.
Chairperson of the Council Sabelo Dlamini, reacting to the ministry’s announcement of the introduction of the fuel levy effective on Thursday midnight, said the 40 cents levy was similar to the road fund which they were already paying.
He said there was E3.80 that was being deducted every time they purchased fuel.
The new levy will not only affect public transport operators, but all motorists buying fuel locally.
Principal Secretary at the ministry of Natural Resources Lindiwe Mbingo, when announcing the new levy, said it was introduced by the provisions of the roads authority act, 2023, which permits the introduction of the roads authority levy.
“It will not result in a fuel price increase this month as fuel products have shown a slight over-recovery recently,” the PS said, adding that its primary objective was to ensure the sustainable maintenance and improvement of the country’s road infrastructure.
She said this was in terms of enhancing transportation efficiency and safety for all road users.
“The funds collected through this levy will be dedicated to the upkeep, rehabilitation and development of road networks across the country,” she said.
But Dlamini said government should have at least diverted the funds from the road fund instead of coming up with the new levy.
“We have not been increasing bus fares for the past three years, but are now forced by the new levy. The executive will have to meet sometime next week to discuss this issue.
Last month, fuel prices increased by 80 cents and there has not been any decrease this side, even though South Africa has done so twice. There are also user fees that we pay for, which increased by 200 per cent. A permit was E100, but now it costs E300,” he said.
share story
Post Your Comments Below
INGWEMABALABALA!
After two painful final defeats to Mbabane Swallows in previous editions, R...
Following some public misconceptions, the Minister of Justice and Constitutional affairs Prince S...
Cracks deepen in the coalition government as the ANC lashes out at the DA over recent mis...
THE country’s artistry was represented in the MTN Bushfire Festival’s first artist li...
All material © Swazi Observer. Material may not be published or reproduced in any form without prior written permission.
Design by Real Image Internet
