Afriforum demands to know why petrol is so expensive in South Africa

The civil action group AfriForum has requested an independent audit of South Africa’s fuel prices, following the latest hikes that occurred in early September.

On Wednesday, 2 September 2026, the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources’ latest fuel price adjustments came into effect. Petrol went up by R1.34 per litre, while diesel increased by between R2.94 and R3.15 per litre.

As a result, petrol prices have climbed to R26.92 per litre at inland rates, while the wholesale price of diesel has reached R30.05 per litre.

In response, AfriForum has asked Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana to launch an audit into the various taxes making up the South African fuel price, including the General Fuel Levy (GFL), Carbon Levy, and Road Accident Fund (RAF) Levy.

This comes after the organisation previously called on the minister to either extend or make the temporary GFL reduction permanent.

Earlier this year, the National Treasury cut the GFL by R3 per litre as an emergency relief measure to protect consumers from the massive fuel price hikes that followed the start of the war in Iran.

The measure was implemented in April and was only supposed to last for one month, but was later extended because fuel prices hadn’t recovered. The cut was finally phased out in July.

AfriForum criticised the decision, saying the short-lived relief measure would only delay the impact on consumers and businesses, rather than prevent it.

“Since then, oil prices have remained high, and the global energy crisis has remained unresolved,” it said.

“This week, petrol prices rose further and, meanwhile, transport costs continue to have an inflationary ripple effect throughout the economy and agricultural sector.”

In a letter to the Finance Minister, AfriForum requested an audit to examine how the different components of South Africa’s fuel price were calculated and applied.

“The audit should examine whether the current structure is efficient, transparent, and proportionate; what these funds are used for and how effectively,” it said.

The civil group also said the audit should consider the economic impact on consumers, transport operators, agriculture, and small businesses.

It commented that the international pressures that led to the emergency tax relief measure had not disappeared, pointing to the fuel price hikes that hit the pumps this September.

AfriForum is still calling for the GFL to be permanently cut, or at the very least reinstated until the current geopolitical tensions subside.

Ernst van Zyl, AfriForum’s head of PR, said the government bears a responsibility to protect consumers and the economy as effectively as possible from global shocks.

“A tax that forms a large share of the pump price should be put under proper scrutiny to explore possible long-term reforms,” he said.

South Africans pay over R6 in tax for every litre of petrol

The retail price of fuel that motorists see at the pump is comprised of several components, including multiple taxes.

The largest component is the Basic Fuel Price, which is based on the international oil price and the rand/US dollar exchange rate, so it is not directly controlled by the government.

However, the government does have control over the GFL, RAF Levy, Slate Levy, Customs and Excise Duty, and Petroleum Products Levy, all of which add a substantial amount to the final price.

The two largest factors are the GFL and RAF Levy, which add R4.10 and R2.25 to the fuel price.

The GFL was originally meant for road maintenance; however, the funds are not ringfenced and can be used as the government sees fit. In recent years, it has become a crutch for the state’s financial shortcomings.

The RAF Levy, meanwhile, supports the Road Accident Fund, which is meant to compensate victims of vehicle-related accidents, but has been under heavy scrutiny over the last year due to reports of wasteful and irregular expenditure.