The Eswatini National Road Transportation Council is set to meet next week to discuss a potential increase in public transport fares following a recent rise in fuel prices.
The Council Chairman Sabelo Dlamini said the meeting aimed to secure a formal mandate to write to the Ministry of Public Works and Transport seeking approval for the fare adjustment.
The move comes as transport owners struggle to absorb higher fuel costs without passing them on to commuters.
Dlamini explained that the sector has deliberately maintained fare levels to shield commuters from additional financial burdens, but rising operational costs are making the situation increasingly unsustainable.
“We have kept fares unchanged for as long as possible to protect commuters, but the recent fuel price increases are putting owners under significant strain and we must now consider adjustments to maintain the viability of public transport.”
Earlier this week, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy announced a sharp increase in fuel prices. Unleaded petrol is set to rise from E19.45 to E22.35 per litre, diesel from E19.85 to E25.20 per litre, and illuminating paraffin from E14.20 to E19.50 per litre.
The increases are tied to global oil market pressures influenced by geopolitical tensions and the cost of importing fuel into the country, which relies entirely on imported petroleum products.
Transport operators have faced rising costs for some time, with the last fare adjustment implemented in April 2022.
Dlamini noted that the sector is currently covering higher fuel and maintenance costs without passing them on to commuters, leaving many operators financially stretched.
He said the upcoming meeting would review the last fare increase and determine an appropriate percentage adjustment to reflect rising costs while remaining sensitive to the public’s financial realities.
Dlamini shared that the process of applying for the hike on its own was going to cost the transport owners as they are currently paying the higher fuel prices without receiving any compensation from commuters, leaving them at a loss.
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He added that if it were up to them, the request for a fare increase would be expedited, but the formal process can take up to three months as it must go through several government departments, including Parliament.
The international situation continues to add uncertainty to fuel markets. Tensions involving the United States (US) and Iran, as well as the status of the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route for global oil supplies, have kept prices volatile.
Recent developments indicate that some vessels are being allowed conditional passage through the strait, but overall maritime traffic remains below pre-conflict levels, leaving oil delivery chains vulnerable to disruption.
As the country relies on fuel imported through South Africa and Mozambique, any further fluctuations in global oil prices could directly impact domestic fuel costs and, by extension, public transport fares.
