POLOKWANE – Many people start the new year with financial challenges.
For some it was a slight relief when the price of 95 octane petrol dropped by 3c a litre and diesel by 78c on Wednesday.
Meanwhile the rand has weakened against the US Dollar and economists said this year the country will face a tough economic climate with growth expected to be around 1,6%.
Review caught up with some consumers and asked them how they feel about the current economic situation and whether they think this will lead to the unemployment rate going up.
Troy Mokoele said it makes no difference that the fuel price went down while the rand is also low. “Everything is expensive and it makes life difficult. Something has to be done; we can’t watch our economy go down like this,” he said.
Refilwe Maake said she fears that if the economy stops doing well then lots of people and companies will be affected. “I’m scared people might lose jobs because companies won’t have money and will have to cut costs,” Maake said.
Flora Meso said even basic needs such as food is expensive and that alone makes living hard. “Services, food and other things go up but salaries stay the same and the currency keeps depreciating,” Meso said.
Ansi Buys said business people should come together and come up with ideas to keep the currency high.
Meacqaulah Louw says she hopes school fees won’t go up since the price of everything is rising.
