South Africa Finance Minister Calls for Gasoline-Price Reforms

(Bloomberg) -- South African Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana called for changes to the way the fuel price is calculated, after the cost of gasoline rose to a record this month.

Regulated fuel prices, which include a levy used to finance a fund to compensate those involved in road accidents and other taxes, have jumped 40% this year. The price increased 3.8% last week to 20.29 rand ($1.27) per liter in Gauteng, the commercial hub.

Godongwana is concerned about the increase in fuel costs “to the extent that we may have to play a role, to do whatever we can, to support the reform of the fuel price,” he told lawmakers Friday in parliament in Cape Town.

Data due out on Dec. 15 is expected to show headline inflation accelerated to 5.5% in November from 5% in October, driven by fuel and food costs. The price-growth measure has been above the 4.5% midpoint of the central bank’s target range at which it prefers to anchor expectations since May.

Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe told lawmakers that separating the fuel levy from prices would be “helpful.”

“At this point in time a big part of the price increases is the levy,” he said. “The way of countering price increases is an urgent matter for review and that is on the table.”

Read: S. Africa Finance Minister Wants Better Economic Recovery Effort

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