South Africa: Protest Preparation, Tariff Hike, and Fuel Price Drop

Government has intensified security preparations ahead of the planned protest on Tuesday, 30 June. Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia said authorities have elevated operational readiness across all nine provinces.

The City of Cape Town has started relocating Zimbabwean nationals gathered outside the Zimbabwean Consulate in District Six to the Department of Home Affairs Repatriation Centre in Epping. The relocation began on Sunday as part of efforts to process voluntary repatriation requests through the designated facility.

Millions of South Africans supplied by municipalities will pay more for electricity from Wednesday, 1 July, when new municipal tariffs take effect. The increases follow the National Energy Regulator of South Africa’s approval of new bulk electricity tariffs for municipalities.

Motorists are expected to get some relief at the pumps when fuel price cuts take effect on Wednesday, 1 July. The latest Central Energy Fund (CEF) data points to the following expected decreases: Petrol 93: Around R1.57 per litre, Petrol 95: Around R1.52 per litre, Diesel (0.05% sulphur): Around R2.71 per litre, Diesel (0.005% sulphur): Around R3.15 per litre.

The Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources will confirm the official fuel prices before they take effect on Wednesday. SARS tax season also begins on 1 July, with taxpayers selected for an auto-assessment expected to review it on eFiling or the SARS MobiApp.

The South African Police Service (SAPS) and the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) are working together to ensure a successful and peaceful protest. Meanwhile, residents of Cape Town are advised to avoid the area of the Zimbabwean Consulate while the relocation operation continues.

South Africa has a long history of peaceful protests, with citizens exercising their constitutional right to freedom of assembly. The government has assured the public that adequate security measures are in place to maintain law and order.

The electricity tariff hike will affect millions of households, with many municipalities implementing increases for water, sanitation, refuse removal, and property rates. The exact increase differs across municipalities, but many households will see higher monthly electricity bills from July.

The decrease in fuel prices follows lower international oil prices after tensions in the Middle East eased. Motorists can expect some relief at the pumps, but it remains to be seen how long this reprieve will last.

The SARS tax season is a critical period for taxpayers, with auto-assessments issued to qualifying taxpayers. Those selected for an auto-assessment should review it on eFiling or the SARS MobiApp to avoid any potential penalties.