Fuel prices have climbed sharply since the start of 2026. With the latest adjustment effective 6 May 2026, it’s worth looking at just how much has changed in a few short months.
January 2026 Prices
These were the regulated pump prices at the beginning of the year:
Fuel Type
Coastal
Inland (Gauteng)
Petrol 95 ULP
R19.92/l
R20.75/l
Petrol 93 ULP
—
R20.64/l
Diesel 0.05% (wholesale)
R17.59/l
R18.42/l
May 2026 Prices (effective 6 May)
Fuel Type
Coastal
Inland (Gauteng)
Petrol 95 ULP
R25.76/l
R26.63/l
Petrol 93 ULP
R25.73/l
R26.52/l
Diesel 0.05% (wholesale)
R30.30/l
R31.17/l
Diesel 0.005% (wholesale)
R30.62/l
R31.88/l
The Damage in Numbers
From January to May 2026:
Petrol 95 (inland): R20.75 → R26.63 — up R5.88/litre (+28.3%)
Petrol 93 (inland): R20.64 → R26.52 — up R5.88/litre (+28.5%)
Diesel 0.05% (inland): R18.42 → R31.17 — up R12.75/litre (+69.2%)
That’s a brutal period for anyone who drives or relies on goods transported by road. To put the diesel figure in context: a 60-litre diesel tank that cost you around R1,105 to fill in January now costs roughly R1,870 — over R765 more per fill-up.
What’s Driving It?
Three main factors have pushed prices up:
Higher international oil prices — Brent Crude has moved significantly higher since January.
Rand weakness — the rand has depreciated against the US dollar, making every imported barrel more expensive in local terms.
Levy changes — the government introduced a temporary R3/litre fuel levy relief in April which cushioned the blow slightly, but the May adjustment saw petrol rise R3.27/litre and diesel R5.27/litre in a single month.
It’s worth noting that the April relief is described as temporary, with relief expected to reduce further from June 2026 — so further pressure on motorists may be coming.
Have Your Say
Are you changing your driving habits because of fuel prices? Have you switched vehicles, reduced trips, or found other ways to cope? This thread is a space to track monthly changes and share how South Africans are adapting.
Sources: Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources (gov.za), Fuels Industry Association of South Africa (fuelsindustry.org.za), BusinessTech
The following analysis is based on Central Energy Fund (CEF) projections as of 11 May 2026, combined with the scheduled partial reintroduction of the General Fuel Levy (GFL).
Critical caveat — CEF projections are early-month snapshots, not final prices. The figures below are highly volatile and do not represent final DMRE (Department of Mineral Resources and Energy) price adjustments. By mid-to-late May, changes in international oil prices, shipping costs, and the rand/dollar exchange rate could materially alter these figures. Do not treat these numbers as near-certain outcomes.
Key Factors
1. International Oil Prices (Brent Crude)
Brent Crude traded between $100–$105/barrel in early May 2026, driven by geopolitical tensions — including the breakdown of US-Iran negotiations and the risk of Strait of Hormuz disruptions.
2. Rand/Dollar Exchange Rate
The rand has been relatively stable at ~R16.49/USD in early May, which helps cushion the impact of elevated oil prices.
3. General Fuel Levy (GFL) Reintroduction
The temporary R3.00/l relief is being phased out. For June 2026, the relief is halved:
Petrol: R1.50/l levy returns (net increase from current relief)
Diesel: R1.96/l levy returns
From 1 July 2026, the full levy resumes — R4.10/l for petrol and R3.93/l for diesel.
4. CEF Under/Over-Recoveries (as of 11 May 2026)
Fuel
CEF Snapshot
Petrol 93
+84c/l (under-recovery — upward pressure)
Petrol 95
+88c/l (under-recovery — upward pressure)
Diesel 0.05%
−249c/l (over-recovery — downward pressure)
Diesel 0.005%
−166c/l (over-recovery — downward pressure)
Predicted June 2026 Inland Prices
Fuel Type
May 2026 (R/l)
Est. Change (R/l)
Predicted June 2026 (R/l)
Petrol 95 ULP
26.63
+2.38
29.01
Petrol 93 ULP
26.52
+2.34
28.86
Diesel 0.05%
31.17
−0.53
30.64
Diesel 0.005%
31.88
+0.30
32.18
Petrol increases = CEF under-recovery + R1.50/l GFL reintroduction. Diesel figures = GFL reintroduction offset against CEF over-recovery.
These are projections, not predictions. The CEF snapshot changes daily throughout the month. The final DMRE adjustment announced in late May will reflect the full month’s average oil price, shipping costs, and rand performance — all of which remain uncertain. Check back closer to the official announcement for a more reliable estimate.
Ag, R20 a litre for petrol and climbing, what a joke. I remember filling the bakkie for under R5 a litre back in the nineties, which tells you everything about where this country has gone. The General Fuel Levy portion is what really gets me, it’s essentially the government helping themselves to your wallet every time you reverse out the driveway.
I’ve cut my driving right down since I retired, so it stings a bit less than it used to. And at least the solar setup means electricity isn’t killing me on top of everything else. But diesel for the backup generator is another story, R17-odd a litre adds up fast when you’re running it for anything serious.
The June prediction being worse is not exactly a shock, is it. CEF projections always seem to lowball the thing and then the actual adjustment arrives and it’s another gut punch. Cape Town traffic is bad enough without every trip costing you a small fortune before you’ve even found parking.
SA petrol price to increase by R1.43/l in June while the diesel price will decline by between R3.24/l and R2.61/l. So, they’re taking back 50% of the fuel levy subsidy. Not the best news, but diesel prices are down a bit, hopefully it stays that way in July.
Critical caveat — CEF projections are early-month snapshots, not final prices. The figures below are highly volatile and do not represent final DMRE (Department of Mineral Resources and Energy) price adjustments. By mid-to-late May, changes in international oil prices, shipping costs, and the rand/dollar exchange rate could materially alter these figures. Do not treat these numbers as near-certain outcomes.
