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Consumers struggle to survive

Cape Town - Cash-strapped consumers, some of whom fork out over R6 000 a month on transport costs, are increasingly worried that they may not be able to survive from one month to the next.

At Midnight on Tuesday the petrol price will go up by 39 cents a litre (c/l). The wholesale price of all grades of diesel will increase by 24c/l.

Economists warned that deeply indebted consumers will bear the brunt of the price hike.

Responding to the latest petrol price increase, Fin24 user Nelene Smit said she spends close to R6 000 on fuel and R4 000 on food, excluding luxuries.

"We cannot survive in South Africa anymore.

"I just received my monthly bank statement.  I live 10 minutes from work, my kids go to school just down the road from our house and we only use one car for the month of January.

"To my horror the bank showed that from December 30 to January 25 we have spent R5 986 on fuel (I drive a Merc A200 which is not heavy on petrol)."

Smit says she is struggling to pay off her debt, let alone trying to save as little as R500 a month.

"Now that the fuel price is going up again, I can't see how to afford to get to work anymore."

She says there is no more middle class in South Africa. "You're either super rich or getting richer or poor and getting poorer."

Shadrack Ramoba, who travels between Soweto and Johannesburg, says it is very abnormal for him to spend R2 000 a month on petrol.

"I'm only earning R8 800 as senior administration clerk in the public service, and with three children, it is very hard to cope with petrol hikes every month."

While most users who wrote to Fin24 spend between R2 000 and R3 000 a month of fuel costs, others have devised ways to reduce their transport bill.

Michael Mosito says he is only using his car on Fridays. "Monday to Thursday I take the taxi."

"My bus ticket from Atlantis to Bellville cost me R825, which is still kind of affordable considering if I had to drive with a car it will cost me much more," says Ronel Steenkamp.

John Mogodi is splitting his costs between commuting on a cab and a bus. "I spend around R180 a week on a cab and around R147 when riding on a bus. All in all both means of transport will cost me R760 and R587 a month respectively."

Farren Naik, who lives about 7km away from her work, says she only spends close to two hours walking to and from work. "I get to see what I've always taken for granted and get in much-needed exercise. It cost me nothing."

Matome Ophra says he is not affected much for now since he's using the taxi, but he worries that the taxi fares will soon go up.

 - Fin24


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