The Department of Petroleum and Mineral Resources has published the official fuel price adjustments that will take effect on Wednesday, 2 September 2026.
August saw fuel price recoveries do a complete U-turn, having started the month on the back foot before swinging towards a neutral point.
However, by the end of the month, the pendulum had reversed course, leaving recoveries at the same point that they started—deep in the red.
As a result, petrol and diesel drivers are both feeling pain from Wednesday, with petrol prices increasing by R1.34 per litre and diesel by between R2.94 and R3.15 per litre.
The price changes were also impacted by an increase in the slate levy and by an increase to accommodate the wage increase for Forecourt employees.
The ill tidings for motorists stem mainly from rising global oil prices, driven by geopolitical conflicts.
The big disruptor remains the US-Iran War, which saw escalation in August, pushing prices above $90 a barrel. However, the Russia-Ukraine War also exacerbated supply disruptions from that region.
Some solace came from the rand/dollar exchange rate, which strengthened to pre-Iran War levels on the back of a weaker greenback.
However, this was not enough to offset the steep under-recoveries caused by rising oil prices.
The table below outlines the changes for the month ahead:
Fuel
Change
Petrol 93increase of R1.34 per litrePetrol 95increase of R1.34 per litreDiesel 0.05% (wholesale)increase of R2.94 per litreDiesel 0.005% (wholesale)increase of R3.15 per litreIlluminating Paraffin (Wholesale)increase of R2.13 per litreLPGAS (Gauteng)increase of 69 per kg
The average Brent Crude oil price increased from 82.37 US Dollars (USD) to 87.88 USD during the period under review.
The increase is due to ongoing US-Iran tensions, uncertainty over oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz, and higher shipping costs.
The average international product prices of petrol, diesel and illuminating paraffin increased due to supply shortages caused by the ongoing Russia/Ukraine conflict and lower global product inventories.
These factors led to higher contributions to the Basic Fuel Prices (BFP) of petrol, diesel and illuminating paraffin by 127.79 cents per litre (c/l), 321.29 c/l and 239.06 c/l, respectively.
The prices of Propane and Butane increased during the period under review.
The Rand appreciated on average against the US Dollar (from 16.46 to 16.21 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 21.07 c/l, 29.06 c/l and 26.69 c/l, respectively.
The cumulative slate amounted to a negative balance of R9.519 billion for petrol and diesel of at the end of July 2026.
In line with the provisions of the Self-Adjusting Slate Levy Mechanism, the slate levy of 83.28 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 21.90 c/l from 61.38 to 83.28 c/l.
The Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources has approved a 4.9 c/l increase (from 315.1 c/l to 320.0 c/l), in the price structures of petrol.
This is to accommodate the wage increase for Forecourt employees, in line with the Motor Industry Bargaining Council (MIBCO) multi-year Wage Settlement Agreement signed on the 23rd of August 2025.
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 R15,163.09 per metric ton and R36.60 per kilogram, respectively, effective from the 2nd of September 2026.
The changes are effective from Wednesday, 2 September 2026.
This is how the price changes will reflect at the pumps (Diesel prices reflect wholesale, pump prices will differ):
Inland
August Official
September Official
93 PetrolR25.42R26.7695 PetrolR25.58R26.92Diesel 0.05% (wholesale)R26.17R29.11Diesel 0.005% (wholesale)R26.90R30.05Illuminating ParaffinR18.76R20.89LPGAS (per kg)R36.70R37.39
Coastal
August Official
September Official
93 PetrolR24.63R25.9795 PetrolR24.71R26.05Diesel 0.05% (wholesale)R25.30R28.24Diesel 0.005% (wholesale)R25.64R28.79Illuminating ParaffinR17.70R19.83LPGAS (per kg)R33.44R34.13LPGAS (Saldanha)*R35.81R36.60*change of 79 cents
