Cape Town – South African motorists face another sharp increase in fuel prices in October, with Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe confirming that there are currently no government interventions planned to cushion consumers from rising costs.
Mantashe made the remarks in response to a parliamentary question from MP Adil Nchabeleng, who asked what urgent measures were being taken to protect consumers from escalating fuel prices.
Mantashe said: “There are currently no interventions planned due in part to the ongoing volatility in petroleum product prices.”
“The department continues to administer fuel prices in a transparent manner as prescribed in legislation,” he added.
The warning comes as the latest fuel-price data point to increases of more than R2 a litre across several petrol and diesel grades.
Central Energy Fund (CEF) data on 14 September showed an under-recovery of about R2.29 a litre for 93-octane petrol and R2.41 for 95-octane petrol. Diesel was also showing increases of about R2.04 to R2.41 a litre.
International oil prices
If those figures hold, inland motorists could pay about R29.05 a litre for 93 petrol and R29.33 for 95 petrol in October, while wholesale 50ppm diesel could reach about R32.46 a litre.
More recent calculations put the potential increase even higher, with 95 petrol potentially reaching R29.54 a litre and wholesale 50ppm diesel R32.86 if current recovery levels persist.
The final prices, however, will depend on movements in international oil prices and the rand during the remainder of September. The October adjustments are expected to take effect on 7 October.
Mantashe said his department is reviewing the regulatory accounting system (RAS), which determines margins across the fuel value chain. The review is expected to be completed by March 2027 and is intended to establish “equitable, fair and transparent margins across the fuel value chain”.
Renewed tensions
The government has previously provided temporary relief to motorists. Fuel-tax relief introduced in April 2026 cost the fiscus more than R17 billion, while Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana has warned that further cuts to fuel taxes would reduce government revenue and require savings elsewhere, higher taxes or additional borrowing.
The latest increases are largely being driven by international conditions. Renewed tensions in the Middle East had pushed Brent crude above $100 a barrel, while movements in the rand against the US dollar were adding further pressure.
South Africa’s fuel-pricing system is adjusted monthly based largely on international petroleum prices, the exchange rate and other domestic factors. The Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources confirmed that September’s prices were influenced by international prices and import costs, while the slate levy was increased to 83.28 cents a litre.
For motorists, the October increase could therefore push petrol prices close to R30 a litre and diesel above R32 a litre, although the final figures will only be known once the monthly pricing process is completed.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
