The EFF has filed an urgent application at the Western Cape High Court in a bid to block the government’s decision to increase fuel levies.
The party is asking the court to suspend what it referred to as an impugned decision by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana, who announced this during his third attempt at delivering the national budget on May 21.
Godongwana announced that fuel levies would increase by 16 cents per litre for petrol and 15 cents per litre for diesel. The increase is set to take effect on June 4.
In Part A of the application, the EFF requests that the court hear the matter urgently and suspend Godongwana’s decision to increase the levy until the full application is decided.
The red berets also request an interdict to stop Godongwana from implementing the increase, order any respondents who oppose the case to pay legal costs, including the cost of counsel, and grant any further or alternative relief the court may see fit.
EFF MP Omphile Maotwe submitted an affidavit to support the application.
Decision was unilateral
“We took the decision not to pre-empt the minister by bringing this application earlier without any reasonable basis for assuming he would simply rely on his budget speech proposal to give effect to the fuel levy increase. It strikes us odd that he seemingly wants to do just that,” said Maotwe.
“I have overheard suggestions that the Finance Ministry is in the process of crafting a government notice to give effect to the fuel increase.
“We are not suggesting that this court can accept such speculation as the true position but accept what is factually before them.”
She continued: “What that is, is that the minister has taken a unilateral decision to increase the fuel price with nothing more as of the deposition of this affidavit. We contend that it is unlawful; hence this application.”
In Part B of the application, the EFF is asking the court to fully review and set aside the decision to raise the fuel levy.
The red berets also want the court to order that Godongwana and any other respondents who oppose the case pay their legal costs, including the fees of two legal counsels.
