Sibongile Mashaba and Angela Bike

Sibongile Mashaba and Angela Bike

The price of petrol went down by between 69 cents and 78 cents a litre this morning.

The Department of Minerals and Energy said that during a review for the period August 1 to August 28, the average product prices of petrol, diesel and paraffin had decreased. Petrol will now cost R9,66 a litre in Gauteng and R9,42 in coastal areas; diesel will cost R9,83 a litre in Gauteng and R9,69 in coastal areas; paraffin will cost R8,07 a litre in Gauteng and R7,83 in costal areas.

This is the second time the petrol price has dropped. Last month it went down by 27 cents a litre while diesel went down by 16 cents.

Soweto taxi driver Arthur Mbele, 36, is very chuffed.

"It is going to make a huge difference in our lives. We have been having a hard time financially."

He said he wished their passengers could benefit from this as well.

"I feel sorry for our passengers. I know the pressure they are going through. It is very unfortunate that taxi fares will not be decreased.

"Our bosses will decide on that," Mbele said.

Oupa Mfelang, 45, of Noordgesig, said he was pleased that the petrol price was going down.

"Life has been tough, so the decrease will really help. I wish it could go down even more," he said.

Thabo Raphoto, of Westbury said: "I am pleased that it will go down. It is not a lot of money but it will help. I just hope that it will go down until it reaches R6 a litre. Last month we had a decrease and this month we have another one."

Sipho Dlamini, 31, of Mofolo North, Soweto, said: "I am happy about the price dropping. It would be much better if it dropped even more."

But Igsaan Sherif, of Westbury, said: "It is still going to kill us. The decrease will not make any difference. I still have to fork out R540 for a full tank, so this recent decrease is not really going to help me much."