Minister Mantashe Announces Huge Fuel Hikes 

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The Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources Gwede Mantashe, has announced a fuel price increase from Wednesday, 7 October 2026.

The price increases announced by the Minister on Monday, 4 October 2026, were as follows:

• Petrol 93 (ULP & LRP): R3.12 increase.
• Petrol 95 (ULP &LRP): R3.33 increase.
• Diesel (0.05% sulphur): R2.84 increase.
• Diesel (0.005% sulphur): R3.24 increase.
• Illuminating Paraffin (wholesale): R3.58 increase.
• Single Maximum National Retail Price for Illuminating Paraffin: R4.77 increase.
• Maximum Retail Price of LPGas: 42c increase and 48c increase in the Western Cape.

Minister Mantashe said the adjustments were based on changes in international oil prices, petroleum product prices and other local pricing factors.

South Africa’s fuel prices are adjusted monthly, informed by international and local factors.

International factors include the fact that South Africa imports both crude oil and finished products at a price set at the international level, including importation costs, e.g., shipping costs.

The main reasons for the fuel price adjustments are as follows:

1. Crude oil prices

The average Brent Crude oil price increased from 87.89 US Dollars (USD) to 101 USD during the period under review.

The increase is due to the continued US/Iran tensions, uncertainty regarding the flow of oil through the Strait of Hormuz, higher shipping costs and decreasing inventories.

2. International petroleum product prices

The average international product prices of petrol, diesel and illuminating paraffin increased due to supply shortages caused by lower global inventories of products.

These factors led to higher contributions to the Basic Fuel Prices (BFP) of petrol, diesel and illuminating paraffin by 329.07 cents per litre (c/l) 280.17 c/l and 357.23 c/l, respectively.

The prices of Propane and Butane also increased during the period under review due to supply uncertainties.

3. Rand/US Dollar exchange rate

The Rand appreciated slightly on average, against the US Dollar (from 16.213 to 16.212 Rand per USD) during the period under review when compared to the previous one.

This led to lower contributions to the Basic Fuel Prices of petrol, diesel and Illuminating Paraffin by 0.17 c/l, 0.22 c/l and 0.21 c/l respectively.

4. Implementation of the Slate Levy

The cumulative slate amounted to a negative balance of R10.45 billion for petrol and diesel of at the end of August 2026.

In line with the provisions of the Self-Adjusting Slate Levy Mechanism, the slate levy of 87.66 c/l will be implemented in the price structures of petrol and diesel with effect from the 2nd of September 2026.

The Slate Levy has increased by 4.38 c/l from 83.28 to 87.66 c/l.

5. Octane differentials between 95 and 93 petrol grades

In line with the Working Rules to determine the Basic Fuels Prices (BFP), the 95 Octane (unleaded) grade is the price-marker grade and the BFP-differential between 95 and 93 Octanes is adjusted on the first Wednesday of each quarter.

The BFP Octane differential has changed during the previous quarter and therefore the retail prices of 95 and 93 petrol octanes will be different in each fuel-pricing zone with effect from the 7th of October 2026.

The Maximum Refinery Gate Price (MRGP) for LPGas that is imported through the Port of Saldanha Bay in the Western Cape province.

The Maximum Refinery Gate Price (MRGP) and the Maximum Retail Price (MRP) of LPGas that is imported through the Port of Saldanha Bay will be R 15 525.62 per metric ton and R 37.08 per kilogram, respectively, effective from the 7th of October 2026.

The fuel prices schedule for the different Magisterial District Zones (MDZ) will be published on Tuesday, the 6th of October 2026.

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