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50 signatures reached
To: Minister of Finance, Godongwana and Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Gwede Mantashe
Demand paraffin price relief, like govt provided petrol price relief
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Many households rely on paraffin to cook food, and winter is coming. The price of paraffin has doubled [1], threatening the homes and livelihoods of those who rely on it as their main source of energy. These families use paraffin for cooking, lighting, keeping their homes warm, running businesses, living, in other words. Every day life is about to become unaffordable.
The government has already softened the blow of fuel hikes on petrol and diesel – but paraffin, used by the country’s poorest, has been left off their list. We urgently need a relief package that will offer practical help to those who need it most, starting with a paraffin subsidy.
We demand that:
- The government bring in urgent subsidies for paraffin to ease the burden on people who need fuel in low-income communities. We reject the government's excuse that, because paraffin is not subject to the general fuel levy, nothing can be done to provide targeted relief.
- Ensure that municipalities implement and expand the Free Basic Alternative Energy Policy, which mandates the government to provide free alternative energy to poor households [2] to ensure that free energy sources reach more households.
- Ensure that when other energy prices decline, Parrafin will decline as well. The price of paraffin must also be monitored, and action taken to tackle the poverty premium that low-income households pay.
Why is this important?
Why is this important
"I live in a one-room shelter. I don't work. I depend on SASSA child grants as I have three children….I don't understand why they would raise the price of paraffin that much because it is my main source of energy." - Andile Chonco [3]
According to Stats SA, Only 94% of people in South Africa are able to access electricity [4]. This is because of a number of reasons that all have to do with government neglect.
The poorest families in South Africa depend on paraffin because they have no other reliable energy sources. In some areas, the government has not provided electricity lines, while others have no access to electricity simply because they cannot afford it. Not only that, the constant power cuts in South Africa are felt more by low-income communities, as their outages tend to last longer. All these factors force them to dig into their already stretched financial resources to find alternative energy, and paraffin is mostly their go-to.
Public pressure forced government to take action on the price of petrol and diesel. If we keep building momentum, we can ensure paraffin price relief. Minister Godogwana mentioned that they have put measures in place to support households [5], which is a great step in the right direction, but these measures should also be extended to households that rely heavily on paraffin.
This couldn’t be more urgent. Winter is on our doorstep, and without paraffin, families across the country are facing freezing homes where the food is cold, and even lights can’t be turned on. The socio-economic impact of this paraffin crisis will be devastating. And this is why we have to pressure both Treasury and Department of Mineral Resources and Energy to move quickly and subsidise paraffin.
References
- Minister Gwede Mantashe announces adjustment of fuel prices effective from the 1st of April 2026, by the South African Government, 31 March 2026. https://www.gov.za/news/media-statements/minister-gwede-mantashe-announces-adjustment-fuel-prices-effective-1st-april
- Free Basic Alternative Energy Policy https://www.cityenergy.org.za/uploads/resource_71.pdf
- Paraffin price surge: a devastating blow to low-income households by Xolile Mtembu for IOL, 04 April 2026. https://iol.co.za/thepost/news/2026-04-02-paraffin-price-surge-a-devastating-blow-to-low-income-households/
- 30 years of democracy: The electrification of South African households https://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/30-years-democracy-electrification-south-african-households
- WATCH | Godongwana and Mantashe agree to temporary fuel levy cut by Khulekani Magubane for Times Live, 31 March 2026. https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/2026-03-31-godongwana-and-mantashe-agree-to-temporary-fuel-levy-cut/