EFF vows to pursue legal challenge over fuel levy hike: 'We will not back down'

Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader, Julius Malema, has declared that the party’s legal battle against the recent fuel levy hike is far from over, expressing firm confidence in securing a victory.

The EFF contended that Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana acted beyond his constitutional authority when he announced the fuel levy increase in May—bypassing parliamentary oversight in the process.

According to Malema, this move undermined democratic procedure and disproportionately burdened South Africa’s poorest citizens.

Godongwana acknowledged the EFF’s pending Part B application but stated that he had not yet reviewed its substantive arguments.

"We lost the urgency application, and now we are going into the merits, the part B of our case. We are still convinced the law was not followed to the letter, and as a result, we are going to emerge victorious in that court."

This follows the Western Cape High Court’s dismissal of Part A of the EFF’s urgent application, which sought to temporarily halt the levy increases pending a full judicial review.

Despite the initial setback, the party remained resolute as it prepared for the next phase of its legal challenge.

The levy, effective from last Wednesday, raised petrol prices by 15 cents per litre and diesel by 16 cents.

The EFF, which voted against the fiscal framework adopted on the same day, called the increase “a direct assault on the poor.”

“We will not back down,” Malema said, emphasising the party’s commitment to seeing the case through, even if it means taking it to the Constitutional Court.

"We will appeal this matter to the ConCourt because we cannot allow the executive to impose itself on the legislature.”

kamogelo.moichela@iol.co.za

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