If you’ve been dreading your next trip to the petrol station, you’re not alone. The increase is now official, and it makes this the highest petrol price South Africa has ever seen. It takes effect on Wednesday, 7 October 2026. Here’s what’s going on, and why.
What the numbers say
The Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources (DMPR) has confirmed the October adjustments, and they came in close to the early projections from the Central Energy Fund (CEF). Those projections tracked the under-recovery, the gap between what fuel should cost at current global prices and what we’re paying at the pump.
Petrol 95 goes up by R3.33 a litre, slightly more than the R3.12 the early figures suggested. Petrol 93 goes up by R3.12. Inland, that takes Petrol 95 from R26.92 to R30.25 a litre, and R29.38 at the coast.
Diesel and paraffin aren’t spared
Petrol drivers aren’t the only ones feeling it. Diesel is up by a similar amount, and paraffin has the biggest increase.
| Fuel type | Increase per litre | New inland price |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol 93 | R3.12 | R29.88 |
| Petrol 95 | R3.33 | R30.25 |
| Diesel 0.05% (wholesale) | R2.84 | R31.95 |
| Diesel 0.005% (wholesale) | R3.24 | R33.29 |
| Illuminating paraffin (wholesale) | R3.58 | – |
The paraffin number is the one that worries me most. The wholesale increase is R3.58 a litre, and the single maximum national retail price rises by R4.77 to R31.82. Plenty of lower-income households rely on it for cooking and heating, and they have the least room to absorb another hit. LPG also rises, by 42c per kilogram nationally and 48c in the Western Cape.
So why is this happening?
Two things drove the increase: the oil price and the rand.
The average Brent crude price over the review period climbed from about US$87.89 to US$101 a barrel. The DMPR says tight global inventories of refined products pushed international petrol, diesel and paraffin prices higher. That added about R3.29 a litre to the Basic Fuel Price of petrol.
The rand did almost nothing to help. It barely moved, from R16.213 to R16.212 to the dollar, which trimmed less than 1 cent a litre. Next to the oil increase, that’s a drop in the bucket.
The slate levy also went up, from 83.28 to 87.66 cents a litre, which adds another 4.38 cents to petrol and diesel. The levy recovers past under-recoveries, and the combined slate balance stood at a negative R10.45 billion at the end of August.
The Middle East is the big wildcard
Investec Chief Economist Annabel Bishop says global events are fuelling the uncertainty. Tensions between the United States and Iran haven’t cooled, and the war in the Middle East keeps raising fears about oil supply and the cost of petroleum products.
There’s also a growing worry that the conflict could spread. Bishop pointed out that it’s already reaching the Red Sea, where Yemen’s Houthis are blocking Saudi Arabian ships. Talks are continuing, even though a peace deal was turned down.
There is one small bright spot. Markets are reacting less dramatically to each new headline than they did earlier this year, which has kept the rand in a tighter range. It wasn’t enough to stop the hike, but it’s something.
A look back at 2026 so far
It’s been a bumpy year at the pumps. Here’s how Petrol 95 and wholesale diesel have moved since March.
| Month | Petrol 95 | Diesel 0.005% (wholesale) |
|---|---|---|
| March 2026 | R20.30 | R18.60 |
| April 2026 | R23.36 | R26.11 |
| May 2026 | R26.63 | R31.88 |
| June 2026 | R28.06 | R29.26 |
| July 2026 | R26.10 | R25.67 |
| August 2026 | R25.58 | R26.90 |
| September 2026 | R26.92 | R33.05 |
| October 2026 (official) | R30.25 | R33.29 |
The previous record for Petrol 95 was R28.06, set back in June. At R30.25, that record is broken comfortably, and wholesale diesel also edges past September’s high. Relief from government looks unlikely. The General Fuel Levy was cut by at least R3 a litre for two months in April, but Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe has said there are no immediate plans for a repeat.
What it could mean for inflation and interest rates
The pump is only the first stop. Bishop warns that higher fuel costs could push inflation back towards 5.0%, because fuel touches almost everything: the cost of moving food, goods and people around the country.
That puts the South African Reserve Bank in a tricky spot. Rates went up recently, and the Bank expects to hold them steady for roughly the next 12 months before cutting. But if inflation keeps climbing and people start to expect higher prices, another hike in November can’t be ruled out.
Abroad, markets are also pricing in two more 0.25 percentage point increases in the United States, in October and December. That could add pressure on emerging-market currencies like the rand.
When does the new price kick in?
The new prices take effect from 00:01 on Wednesday, 7 October 2026. The detailed price schedule for the different magisterial district zones is due on Tuesday, 6 October.
A few ways to soften the blow
You can’t control the oil price, but a few habits can take some of the sting out:
- Fill up today. The new prices start just after midnight tonight, so today is your last chance to fill up at the old price.
- Check your tyre pressure. Under-inflated tyres burn more fuel, and the check costs next to nothing.
- Bundle your errands. Several short trips use more fuel than one planned loop, especially with a cold engine.
- Go easy on the pedals. Hard braking and fast acceleration waste petrol.
- Share the ride. A lift club with colleagues or neighbours can split the cost of a long commute.
- Clear out the boot. Extra weight makes your car work harder.
None of this will cancel out a R3 increase, but over a month it all adds up.
The bottom line
South Africans are heading into October with a heavy fuel bill. Petrol has broken its all-time record, diesel remains painfully expensive, and paraffin has taken the biggest jump of all. High oil prices, a wobbly rand and conflict abroad are all playing their part. The sensible move now is to budget for a bigger fuel bill and keep an eye on what the November review brings.
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