(Reuters) -South African fuel prices will jump again in July, the government said on Monday, as it will halve a temporary reduction in the general fuel levy.
The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy said in a statement that the petrol pump price would increase by up to 2.57 rand ($0.1576) a litre and the diesel price by up to 2.31 rand a litre from July 6.
The government of Africa’s most industrialised nation has introduced measures to try to curb steeply rising fuel prices linked to the war in Ukraine amid public alarm and calls from opposition parties to intervene.
In May it extended a 1.5 rand a litre reduction in the general fuel levy for a further month but said it would be reduced to 75 cents a litre from July and then withdrawn in August.
Fuel prices are a major reason why inflation breached the upper limit of the central bank’s target range in May, quickening more than expected to 6.5% in annual terms.
The South African Reserve Bank, which targets inflation of between 3% and 6%, has raised rates at its last four monetary policy meetings and is expected to do so again when it meets later this month.
($1 = 16.3058 rand)
(Reporting by Anait MiridzhanianEditing by Alexander Winning)
