Petrol takes another bite out of South African wallets from Wednesday

Fuel

South Africa – Motorists and other fuel users will face sharp price increases from Wednesday, 7 October 2026, following the latest adjustment announced by Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe.

The Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources said the increases were driven mainly by higher international crude oil and petroleum product prices, as well as changes linked to the fuel pricing mechanism.

The average Brent crude oil price increased from $87.89 to $101 per barrel during the period under review.

According to the department, the increase was linked to “continued US/Iran tensions, uncertainty regarding the flow of oil through the Strait of Hormuz, higher shipping costs and decreasing inventories.”

International petrol, diesel and illuminating paraffin prices also increased because of supply shortages associated with lower global inventories.

These factors contributed 329.07 cents per litre to the Basic Fuel Price of petrol, 280.17 cents per litre for diesel and 357.23 cents per litre for illuminating paraffin.

Minor reductions

The rand, meanwhile, provided little relief after appreciating marginally against the US dollar, moving from R16.213 to R16.212 on average.

The department said this resulted in only minor reductions in the Basic Fuel Price contributions of petrol, diesel and illuminating paraffin.

From Wednesday, 93 petrol will increase by 312 cents per litre, while 95 petrol will rise by 333 cents per litre.

Diesel will also become more expensive, with 0.05% sulphur diesel increasing by 284.38 cents per litre and 0.005% sulphur diesel rising by 324.38 cents per litre.

Illuminating paraffin will increase by 358 cents per litre at wholesale level, while the Single Maximum National Retail Price for illuminating paraffin will rise by 477 cents per litre.

The department also announced increases in the maximum retail price of LPGas, with the price rising by 42 cents per kilogram, and by 48 cents per kilogram in the Western Cape.

Rising international oil prices

The adjustment comes as the cumulative slate balance for petrol and diesel stood at a negative R10.45 billion at the end of August.

“In line with the provisions of the Self-Adjusting Slate Levy Mechanism, the slate levy of 87.66 c/l will be implemented in the price structures of petrol and diesel,” the department said.

The slate levy increased from 83.28 cents to 87.66 cents per litre.

The department also said the price difference between 95 and 93 octane petrol had changed during the previous quarter, meaning the retail prices for the two grades will differ across fuel-pricing zones.

The Maximum Refinery Gate Price for LPGas imported through Saldanha Bay will be R15,525.62 per metric tonne, while the maximum retail price will be R37.08 per kilogram, effective from 7 October.

The detailed fuel price schedule for the different Magisterial District Zones is expected to be published on Tuesday, 6 October 2026.

The latest increases follow a period of rising international oil prices, with the department saying South Africa’s monthly fuel price adjustments are influenced by both international and domestic factors, including the cost of importing crude oil and finished petroleum products.

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