Ramaphosa signals fuel relief and warns of Agoa losses as elections loom

In a wide-ranging briefing with editors and journalists on Monday, President Cyril Ramaphosa acknowledged voter anger, hinted at fuel price relief and warned that South Africa could lose its AGOA status and the benefits associated with it.

Ramaphosa signalled that the government was considering further measures to cushion South Africans against soaring fuel prices.

Ramaphosa said that losing AGOA would be “devastating” for South African jobs, which depend on the program’s duty-free access to the US market. Addressing the possibility of exclusion, he stated, “I need, as President, to prepare us if it ever happens. We are not the first and only country to be taken out of AGOA. And I believe we will not be the last.”

The President noted that while the US Congress extended South Africa’s participation in the trade initiative until 2028, final executive approval remains pending. As diplomatic tensions between Washington and Pretoria continue to fray, the government is simultaneously engaging with US counterparts while exploring alternative export markets to protect the economy.