The recent hike in electricity and fuel prices is set to have a considerable impact on commuters, as public transport operators prepare to enforce the full gazetted fare rates starting next week.
This change will place a significant financial burden on many individuals who rely on public transport for their daily travel, making their commutes even more costly during a time when many are already facing financial hardships.
During a meeting of the Eswatini National Road Transportation Council on Thursday, it was decided that all public transport operators, who had previously been charging fares below the officially approved gazette rates, must now adjust their pricing to align with the established rates.
This decision marks a significant shift that will affect countless commuters who rely on public transport, increasing the economic pressures already faced by the community. Council Chairman, Sabelo Dlamini, said this was an interim measure while they prepare to engage the government on increasing fares.
He noted that some operators, particularly buses, had been charging discounted fares in an effort to remain competitive and ease the burden on commuters. However, following the recent increase in fuel prices, they are forced to reconsider this approach. The ministry of Natural Resources last week, on Wednesday, announced that the price of unleaded petrol (ULP95) would increase by E2.90/l, from E19.45 to E22.35, diesel (50ppm S) by E5.35/l from E19.85 to E25.20/l with the price of illuminating paraffin increasing by E5.30/l from E14.20 to E19.50.
This followed the Eswatini Energy Regulatory Authority’s approval of an electricity tariff hike of 13.61%.
Dlamini said while the council was still in the process of engaging the government on a possible fare hike, the immediate priority was to ensure that operators no longer operate at a loss.
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“The next step is to engage an economist who will assist in calculating the percentage adjustment we will propose before approaching the government,” he said. In the interim, commuters will begin paying the full gazetted fares, a move expected to place additional financial pressure on households already grappling with the rising cost of living.
To enforce the decision, Dlamini said the Council would, from tomorrow, put up posters in the different public transport vehicles to ensure that commuters are informed of the changes.
Last week, the government announced sharp increases in fuel prices, pushing up the cost of petrol, diesel and paraffin. The hike has had a ripple effect across various sectors, with transport operators among the hardest hit.
The transport sector had previously indicated that it had been absorbing rising fuel and maintenance costs without passing them onto commuters, a situation that many operators described as unsustainable. The decision to revert to gazette fares is therefore seen as a necessary step to stabilise operations while awaiting a formal review of fares.
However, the move is likely to draw concern from commuters, many of whom had grown accustomed to the lower, discounted fares offered by some operators. With no immediate increase beyond the gazette rates, the council maintains that the measure is not a fare hike in itself, but rather a return to the officially approved pricing structure.
Dlamini reiterated that the process of applying for a fare increase remains underway, noting that it involves several stages, including consultations with government and other stakeholders.
He urged all public transport operators who charge the gazetted rates not to increase the fare as that was only applicable to those charging less.
