Mashatile not worried by EFF's decision to challenge fuel levy increase in court

PRETORIA - Deputy President Paul Mashatile said he was not fazed by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF)’s decision to challenge the increase in the fuel levy.

The red berets have filed an urgent application in the Western Cape High Court, seeking to have the increase suspended.

This is after Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana announced the fuel levy hike during his third budget speech last week.

Mashatile spoke to journalists about the EFF’s application on the sidelines of a government event at the presidential guesthouse in Pretoria on Friday.

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From Wednesday next week, motorists will have to pay 16c/l more on petrol, while diesel will increase by 15c/l.

These prices were revealed during last week’s budget speech, prompting some parties to question the executive’s authority to impose these hikes.

In its submission, the EFF argued that the finance minister must obtain Parliament’s approval before increasing levies or taxes.

But Mashatile suggested that the EFF’s grounds were weak.

"I’m not so worried about the EFF’s case because the minister of finance had a very involved process of dealing with the budget - there were a lot of consultations."

Some members of Parliament believe the fuel levy increase is far worse than a value-added tax (VAT) hike.