Ramaphosa Promises to Help Ease the Cost of Living As Energy and Food Prices Skyrocket

• President Cyril Ramaphosa promised South Africans that the government would do everything in its power to reduce the cost of living
• The war in Ukraine has caused fuel, energy and food prices to skyrocket placing a great deal of pressure on families and individuals
• An increase in revenue collections has allowed the government to allocate R5.2 billion in tax relief

PRETORIA - President Cyril Ramaphosa has promised to help reduce the impact on consumers as the price for fuel, electricity and food skyrockets.

The war in Ukraine is a large contributing factor to the steep rise in the cost of living across the world. However, it is being acutely felt in South Africa as families struggle to make ends meet.

Ramaphosa did not go into detail but vaguely said that the government would use all the levers at its disposal to reduce the impact on families and individuals.

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He was able to promise some tax relief due to higher than expected revenue collection and proposed to use R5.2 billion to cushion the blow to South Africans according to SABC News.

Ramaphosa also said that the mineral resources and energy department would implement measures to calculate fuel increases and other regulations to reduce costs.

Despite calls to lift the national disaster act, Ramaphosa said that he would do so but would not do anything reckless.

The Citizen reported that Ramaphosa has appointed a committee to look into the effects of Russia war in Ukraine.

The high fuel cost has made South Africans look at other ways of travelling

Earlier, Briefly News reported that one Twitter user asked FNB's vehicle finance arm if they offered assistance with borrowing money for a horse. The person, with the handle VendaVendor, even enquired about the interest rate and period term. The tweet came in response to South Africans dealing with fuel costs of over R21 per litre.

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The joke caught the attention of tweeps who reacted with laughter to the post and offered advice for pet insurance. Data from the Central Energy Fund showed that another increase to the fuel price was expected in April as the ramifications of Russia's invasion of Ukraine impacted the world.

South Africans are somehow always able to make light of serious situations. We're able to find humour even when we're dealing with topics like the high fuel price. One Twitter user made a tongue-in-cheek comment and asked WesBank, a vehicle finance company if they could finance a horse.

Source: Briefly News