The government might have to consider imposing penalties to curb the rapid growth in sales of 4x4s and off-road vehicles, which have risen despite the soaring fuel price, according to Nhlanhla Gumede, the chief director of hydrocarbons in the department of minerals and energy.
"The idea of a penalty on people buying guzzlers came up two years ago, but we did not take it further because we wanted a system that would run itself without government, but it is something we would have to consider in future," he said.
Gumede said the department studied a system used in Europe and parts of the United States where purchasers of petrol-guzzling 4x4s had to pay a penalty, while motorists purchasing light vehicles were given rebates.
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"In terms of energy efficiency, South Africa is just starting and we'd have to tackle the matter in partnership with other government departments," he said, noting that the high price of fuel had not deterred buyers.
'Motorists purchasing light vehicles were given rebates' "One would have thought that rising fuel prices would see more people buying cheaper vehicles that would use up to six litres of petrol per 100 kilometres, but many opt for vehicles that use 22 litres per 100 kilometres," he said.
Fuel in South Africa cost R3,66 a litre in September 2000. From Wednesday, unleaded petrol will cost R7,04 a litre, up from R6,73 a litre, in Gauteng and R6,80 a litre on the coast, up 31c from the current R6,49 a litre.
Gumede said the department was considering ways in which it could improve energy efficiency in the country and that South Africa was looking to emulate the rest of the world in maintaining strict emission standards for vehicles.
According to statistics from the National Automobile Association of South Africa (Naamsa), there has been a dramatic increase in the number of small sports utility vehicles (SUVs), such as the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, Jeep Cherokee, Land Rover Freelander and the Subaru Forester, sold in South Africa.
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