South Africans are paying R9.50 per litre more for petrol than they were at the start of 2026, following several major price hikes.
Back in January, a litre of petrol 95 would set you back R20.75 at inland rates. While still much higher than most people would ideally be prepared to pay, this was actually one of the lowest fuel prices in recent years.
Fuel prices surged in 2022 when the war between Russia and Ukraine first broke out, leading to a then-record petrol price of R26.74 per litre.
Prices gradually improved over the next few years, reaching their lowest point in February 2026 when motorists were paying R20.10 per litre.
However, at the end of February, the United States and Israel launched military strikes against Iran, plunging the Middle East into a prolonged conflict that still shows no signs of slowing down, eight months later.
Between February and October 2026, Brent Crude oil prices have skyrocketed from $67 per barrel to $114 per barrel.
This has had a severe impact on South Africa’s fuel prices, as the country has lost most of its local refinery capacity over the last seven years and is therefore more dependent on imported refined petroleum products.
Prices have fluctuated as the fighting between the US and Iran has gone through periods of de-escalation and renewed hostilities.
Between March and June, petrol prices climbed by a combined R7.99 per litre. July and August then saw prices fall by a combined R2.48 per litre before two more hikes followed in September and October.
Bear in mind that the price hikes would have been more severe had it not been for the government’s decision to cut the General Fuel Levy (GFL) by R3.00 per litre in April and May.
This relief measure came to an end in July, and motorists are currently bearing the brunt of the full cost impact on petrol and diesel.
These were the official fuel price adjustments over the last nine months:
- February – 65c per litre decrease
- March – 20c per litre increase
- April – 306c per litre increase
- May – 327c per litre increase
- June – 146c per litre increase
- July – 196c per litre decrease
- August – 52c per litre decrease
- September – 134c per litre increase
- October – 333c per litre increase
The silver lining is that the fuel price relief measure is returning, as Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana announced earlier this month that the GFL cut will be reinstated in November.
The following table shows the cost difference between filling different tank sizes in January compared to October:
| Tank size | Cost to refill in January 2026 (R20.75/l) | Cost to refill in October 2026 (R30.25/l) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 litres | R622.50 | R907.50 | +R285 |
| 40 litres | R830.00 | R1,210.00 | +R380 |
| 50 litres | R1,037.50 | R1,512.50 | +R475 |
| 60 litres | R1,245.00 | R1,815.00 | +R570 |
| 70 litres | R1,452.50 | R2,117.50 | +R665 |
| 80 litres | R1,660.00 | R2,420.00 | +R760 |
Motorists are now paying anywhere from R285 to R760 more to fill up a tank in October compared to the start of the year.
Unfortunately, November is unlikely to see a meaningful reduction in fuel prices, as data from the Central Energy Fund shows that petrol and diesel prices are set to go up next week.
Petrol on track for an under-recovery between R1.07 and R1.22 per litre, while diesel is showing an under-recovery of between R1.34 and R1.44 per litre.
However, the government plans to reduce the GFL by R1.50 per litre for petrol and R3.00 per litre for diesel from 4 November to 1 December.
Since the fuel tax cut is greater than the anticipated hikes, motorists will see prices come down next week, though only by a small amount.
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