SA Motorists Face Massive Fuel Price Hikes Effective 7 October 2026

The Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, under Minister Gwede Mantashe, announced significant increases across all major fuel categories, driven primarily by surging global crude oil prices and international product supply shortages.

Fuel Price Adjustments & Regional Pump Rates

The official press release specifies national price adjustments per litre. Because inland regions (such as Gauteng) incur pipeline and transport costs to move fuel from coastal ports, inland retail prices are typically around 87 cents per litre higher than coastal prices (such as Cape Town and Durban). Please note that exact prices may vary in your specific region based on regional zone transport tariffs.

Key Drivers Behind the October Increase

The monthly price review reflects several local and international economic factors:

1. Surging Crude Oil Costs

The average price of Brent Crude oil rose sharply from $87.89 to $101.00 per barrel during the review period. This surge stems from escalating geopolitical tensions between the United States and Iran, severe uncertainties surrounding oil shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz, rising global freight rates, and declining international crude inventories.

2. Supply Shortages in Refined Products

Global inventories of finished petroleum products shrank, driving up basic fuel pricing. The Basic Fuel Price (BFP) contributions surged substantially:

• Petrol: +329.07 cents per litre

• Diesel: +280.17 cents per litre

• Illuminating Paraffin: +357.23 cents per litre

Prices for Propane and Butane also climbed sharply due to ongoing supply chain uncertainties.

3. Slate Levy Adjustments

By the end of August 2026, the cumulative Slate balance registered a deficit of R10.45 billion. Under the Self-Adjusting Slate Levy Mechanism, the Slate Levy on petrol and diesel increases by 4.38 c/l, moving from 83.28 c/l to 87.66 c/l.

4. Quarterly Octane Differential

As required by the BFP Working Rules, the price differential between 95 Octane (the market price-marker grade) and 93 Octane has been adjusted for the new quarter, resulting in varied retail prices across regional pricing zones starting October 7.

Modest Support from the Rand

The South African Rand offered marginal relief against the US Dollar during the review period, appreciating slightly from an average of R16.213 to R16.212 per USD. While this minor strengthening trimmed the BFP contributions for petrol (-0.17 c/l), diesel (-0.22 c/l), and paraffin (-0.21 c/l), it was far too small to offset the aggressive surge in international crude prices and refined product premiums.

Port of Saldanha Bay LPGas Pricing

For LPGas imported through the Port of Saldanha Bay in the Western Cape, the adjusted prices effective 7 October 2026 are:

• Maximum Refinery Gate Price (MRGP): R15 525.62 per metric ton

• Maximum Retail Price (MRP): R37.08 per kilogram