This is how the war in the Middle East is affecting South Africa

Build One SA leader Mmusi Maimane. Picture: Neil McCartney The war between the US, Israel and Iran entered its 20thday on Thursday and South African parliamentarians debated its effect on the country. While most political parties in parliament differed on their support for the different actors in the war, they all agreed that the war is having negative consequences for South Africa and its people.

Malebo Kobe from ActionSA said the bombs between these countries are exploding thousands of kilometres away, but South Africans are already feeling the effects. “The disruption of global oil supply particularly though the strategic strait of Hormuz has sent shock waves though the energy market oil prices rising at 40% and, with that, the cost of living will inevitably follow. And what does mean for our people?

“It means petrol and diesel prices will skyrocket; it means a domestic worker is Khayelitsha will pay more just to get to work; it means the cost of transport and goods will rise; it means farmers already under strain will pay more just to produce food, and ultimately it means that every South African in this place will pay more at the till,” she said. Kobe said the war will affect the growth of the struggling South African economy. “Leaving many trapped in poverty, unemployment under the watchful eye of the government of national unity (GNU),” she said.

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Kobe criticised the efforts by the South African government in shielding the country from the effects of this war. “As ActionSA we believe that the immediate practical steps must be taken. First, our government must implement the temporary levy relief to shield customers from extreme price shocks.

This was done during the onset of the Russia-Ukraine war and it can be done again.” She also spoke out against those that were manipulating fuel prices and taking advantage of the effects of the war. “Second to this, we must urgently accelerate energy diversification. Our over-reliance on imported fuel leaves South Africans dangerously exposed to geopolitical instability.

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