Global oil prices dropped more than 4% on Monday after the US and Iran reached a peace deal, and South Africa is already feeling the ripple effect at the pump. Petrol is currently tracking a cut of more than R2 a litre for July, which would be welcome news for millions of commuters counting every rand.
For taxi owners, that R2 drop translates to roughly R128 saved on a 50-litre fill. That is real money, and it adds up fast across a fleet or a long month of routes.
The catch is that cheaper fuel does not automatically mean cheaper fares. Taxi owners decide their own rates, and with rising costs everywhere from tyres to tolls, many operators may choose to absorb the savings rather than pass them on. Whether commuters actually feel this in their pockets remains to be seen.
Originally published by AllAfrica · newsdesk@scrolla.africa (Scrolla).