Residents of Somalia Park informal settlement in Ekurhuleni in Gauteng say they’re battling to afford the cost of living following this week’s increase in the price of paraffin.

From the first of this month, the price of a litre of paraffin rose to R11.67 per litre.

The price increase is due to the rising cost of oil caused by the war in the Middle East.

Most Somali Park residents, who are unemployed and survive on social grants, say a litre of paraffin does not last long.

(“We’re really struggling, it’s extremely hard for some of us who’re unemployed it’s not easy. I asked at the shop since when did the Paraffin price increase from R18 to R30, what was happening and they said mama, the prices have all went up. A 20 litre isn’t even enough to last us a month.”

“It saddens me now that the paraffin price has went up. It’s hard cause now I’m unable to light my house the way I used to, I have now minimised the time. I really need it, for me to buy it with the little that I have so that my children and I don’t stay in the dark and there’s light in the house.”

“It’s really hard because there’s no money and jobs, no we’re just trying here and there to get money to buy paraffin. It really hurts but there’s nothing that one can do about it.”

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