South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa says R24 billion fuel subsidy came at the expense of other government programmes as fuel prices rise again South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has said his government is giving serious consideration to measures to address rising fuel prices, while warning that further intervention could place significant pressure on public finances. Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the Bana Pele Leadership Summit in Sandton, Gauteng, on October 19, 2026, Ramaphosa acknowledged the impact of rising fuel costs, stressing that South Africa was not alone in facing the challenge, as governments and businesses worldwide were exploring ways to respond. He revealed that when fuel prices increased several months earlier, the government intervened with approximately R24 billion in subsidies to cushion consumers. However, he explained that the money had to be diverted from other government programmes. With fuel prices rising again, Ramaphosa said the government was carefully considering what needed to be done, highlighting the difficult balance between providing relief to consumers and funding other national priorities. His remarks come amid discussions over a proposed R10 billion allocation for temporary fuel price relief, which has received support from a parliamentary committee but is still awaiting final approval. This video is credited to @sabcnews — @businessinsiderssa TikTok