EFF Rejects 2025 Fiscal Framework and Fuel Levy Hike: “Direct Assault on the Poor”
In a fierce response to the 2025 Fiscal Framework and Revenue Proposals, EFF MP Omphile Maotwe has strongly rejected the proposed fuel levy increase, calling it a “direct assault upon the poor” that will worsen the already unbearable cost of living for South African citizens.
Maotwe, speaking on behalf of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), condemned the government’s decision, asserting that the fuel levy hike isn’t just a burden on motorists but will affect everyone, especially the working class. “This increase in the fuel levy is not just an attack on motorists; it affects everyone, especially the working class who are already under immense pressure,” Maotwe declared.
A Financial Squeeze on the Working Class
The fuel levy increase, part of the broader fiscal framework set for 2025, has sparked fierce opposition, with critics arguing that it will push the price of basic goods even higher, further straining an already cash-strapped population. Maotwe argued that this new burden would only worsen the plight of millions of South Africans who are struggling to make ends meet amidst escalating inflation and rising living costs.
“This is not just an economic policy; it is a class attack,” Maotwe continued. “The government is targeting those who can least afford it and compounding the hardships faced by the working class.”
EFF’s Legal Stand Against Unjust Taxation
Maotwe also emphasized the EFF’s commitment to defending the economically vulnerable, citing the party’s role in challenging unjust fiscal policies through legal means. “It took the EFF to approach the Western Cape High Court to stop the VAT increase,” she pointed out, underlining the party’s ongoing fight to protect South Africans from what it views as exploitative financial measures.
The VAT increase, which the EFF successfully challenged, was another contentious policy seen as an unfair tax burden on the poor. This victory, according to Maotwe, highlights the EFF’s efforts to protect ordinary South Africans from an economic system that continues to favor the wealthy at the expense of the disadvantaged.
EFF’s Call for Accountability
With the 2025 fiscal proposals now on the table, the EFF has vowed to continue opposing policies that they believe will harm the most vulnerable sectors of society. The party has made it clear that it will remain a vocal critic of the government’s economic decisions, demanding that any tax or levy increase be implemented only after careful consideration of its impact on those at the bottom of the economic ladder.
As the debate over the fuel levy intensifies, all eyes are on whether the EFF will succeed in mobilizing enough public support to block the proposed increase or force a revision of the broader fiscal framework. One thing is certain: this issue will continue to be a flashpoint in the lead-up to the 2025 national budget.
