The South African Federation of Trade Unions has strongly condemned the latest fuel price hikes, warning they will deepen the crisis facing workers already struggling with rising living costs and unemployment.

SAFTU says the increases are driven by global instability, war, and what it calls profiteering by multinational oil companies and financial speculators.

The federation argues that ordinary South Africans are effectively subsidising the profits of global corporations while basic goods and transport become increasingly unaffordable.

It is calling on government to scrap fuel levies, provide emergency relief to poor households, and intervene to stabilise prices.

SAFTU has renewed demands for a major shift in economic policy, urging increased public investment, job creation, and higher taxes on corporations and the wealthy.