DA and ANC fights about who is taking credit: South African Government Cuts a little bit Fuel Levy to "Soften Sharp" Price Rise, while in Angola you pay R5 - R6 per liter.

Look at these screenshots making the rounds: In Angola, petrol sits at roughly 300 Angolan Kwanza per litre – about $0.33 USD, or a measly R5.59 when converted to rand. Diesel is a bit higher at around R7-something. Meanwhile, here in South Africa, we’re bracing for petrol to still jump by over R3 even after the “heroic” intervention, with diesel taking an even bigger beating. And our politicians are out here chest-thumping like they just invented electricity.

In Angola you pay R5 - R6 per liter of fuel.
But look at these DA and ANC clowns with their R3 fuel reduction levy fighting one another who takes credit?
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— WesternPulse (@WesternPulse88) March 31, 2026

Why is fuel in Angola so dirt cheap?

Simple: Angola is an oil-producing country that has long kept prices artificially low through heavy government subsidies. They pump the stuff out of the ground, and for years the state has eaten the difference to keep the pump price low for citizens. Yes, they’re now slowly phasing some subsidies out (with protests and pain along the way), but the baseline remains far lower than what importers like us face.

South Africa? We import most of our refined fuel. We pay the full global Basic Fuel Price, then layer on a mountain of local taxes and levies before you even fill your tank. The general fuel levy alone was hovering around R4 before this temporary slash, the Road Accident Fund (RAF) levy adds another R2+, and there’s carbon tax and other bits on top. Combined, government takes roughly R6–R7 per litre in various taxes and levies in normal times. That’s not “protection” – that’s a toll booth on every litre.

So when Angola fills up for the equivalent of R5–R6 a litre, we’re looking at R20+ (and climbing) even after the grand R3 “relief”. The difference isn’t just geology or subsidies – it’s how aggressively our government milks the motorist.

Watch Riaan Roux analysis on the fuel levy here: 

Another video about how we are being misled by the government of South Africa on fuel levies:

#FuelPriceAlert
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— WesternPulse (@WesternPulse88) April 1, 2026

The great credit war: ANC vs DA in the GNU clown show

Enter the social media slap-fight. ANC-aligned voices post triumphant statements: “We welcome the ANC-led government’s swift intervention… This is what a caring government does! #ANCatWORK #TheYearOfDecisiveAction.”

The DA fires back with breaking-news graphics and green fuel nozzles: “After sustained DA pressure… we welcome the announced R3 cut, a solution we put forward!” Both sides preen for the cameras, claiming they saved the day while the other lot would have let you burn.

Here’s the punchline, though: They’re in the same GNU government. Same cabinet discussions, same Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana making the call, same coalition keeping the lights (sort of) on. This isn’t heroic opposition versus benevolent ruling party – it’s two factions of the same ruling arrangement arguing over who gets to wear the medal for doing the bare minimum.

The DA pushed for a bolder 50% cut across general fuel levy and RAF (which would have delivered more relief), but what we got was a temporary R3 haircut on the general levy only – enough to blunt the worst of the hike, but nowhere near structural relief. And both parties are quick to remind us this might need “compensatory measures” elsewhere because, heaven forbid, government revenue takes a tiny dip.

Who’s really fooling whom?

Nobody should be taking a single gram of credit here.

This R3 “sacrifice” is a drop in the ocean compared to the structural milking South African drivers endure. Fuel levies and taxes routinely make up 30%+ of the pump price. The RAF levy funds a broken system notorious for corruption and inefficiency. The general fuel levy is supposed to help roads and infrastructure, yet potholes laugh at us daily. We could – and should – have much lower effective levies without collapsing the fiscus, especially when global shocks hit.

Instead, the default is to hike levies in the budget, then stage a last-minute partial rollback when public outrage (and minibus taxi operators) gets too loud, all while patting themselves on the back for “responsiveness.”

Angola’s cheap fuel highlights the absurdity: an oil producer still subsidises to keep prices sane for its people (with all the fiscal distortions that brings). We, the non-producers, pay premium global prices plus one of the heavier tax loads on fuel in the region – and then get treated to a political theatre show when it becomes politically toxic.

Next time you see ANC and DA trading victory laps over this R3 gesture, remember: they’re not opponents here. They’re co-managers of the same system that treats every litre you pump as another opportunity to extract. Real relief would mean a serious, sustained review of the entire levy structure – not this monthly game of “how much can we get away with before the voters revolt?”

Until then, enjoy your slightly-less-painful April fill-up, courtesy of the GNU’s joint production: “We may fight in public, but we milk together.”

Fill up wisely, South Africa. And keep asking why our “relief” always feels like such hard work.