Cheaper Petrol, Expensive Food

Frustrated consumers are demanding to know why food prices haven’t dropped even though the petrol price has – and may soon drop even more.

- Eric Naki

MANY MOTORISTS are smiling from ear to ear after the recent drop in the petrol price, and another reduction is expected this month. But some consumers have put the celebrations on hold for now.

Consumer Alfred Moselakgomo tells us he’s waiting for summer, when he hopes the price of consumer goods, like food, will follow petrol’s example.

Thanks to the rand strengthening against the American dollar, the petrol price dropped by a very welcome 99 c per litre on Wednesday 3 August. However, Mpumalanga-born Alfred (34) wonders why the price of food and other goods has remained the same.

He landed a lucrative new job as a spokesperson at the Limpopo Legislature early this year, and now earns a better salary. However, he still worries that he must fork out more for basics, and feels retailers should be reined in to assist consumers.

Similarly, Cape Town-based consumer Saki Mokwena believes the price of goods and food should be closely monitored to ensure retailers are held accountable if they fail to lower prices when they can.

He and Alfred question why only shop owners should be the only ones to benefit from petrol price reductions.

“As the retailers smile all the way to the bank, their savings in transport costs must trickle down to the consumers in the form of lower prices, especially for foodstuffs,” Alfred asserts.

Meanwhile, Saki (36) is feeling the pinch as he has multiple financial burdens – school fees and transport for his two small children, car instalments, insurance policies, food, clothing and entertainment.