South African motorists are set to feel renewed pressure at the pumps from Wednesday, 6 April 2026, after the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources (DMPR) confirmed steep increases in both petrol and diesel prices, underscoring ongoing volatility in global energy markets and its direct impact on the domestic economy.
While the increases signal a marked escalation in fuel costs, the Department has maintained that measures are in place to cushion consumers from the full impact.
In particular, the extension of the R3 reduction in the general fuel levy for petrol remains in effect, alongside a R3.93 reduction for diesel.
As confirmed on 1 April 2026, the National Treasury and the DMPR jointly implemented the temporary relief measure as part of a broader intervention to contain rising living costs.
This relief measure, as detailed in a joint statement by the Department and National Treasury, is intended to provide short-term financial respite without undermining the integrity of South Africa’s fuel pricing framework.
Consequently, the general fuel levy has been reduced from approximately R4.10 per litre to R1.10 per litre for petrol, and from R3.93 to R0.93 per litre for diesel, reflecting a significant, albeit temporary, fiscal concession.
Despite this intervention, underlying pressures in global oil markets have driven a sharp upward adjustment in local fuel prices.
Against this backdrop, the DMPR has confirmed the following price changes, effective Wednesday at filling stations. The adjusted prices for this month are as follows:
- Petrol 93 and 95 (ULP & LRP): R3.27 per litre (p/l) increase.
- Diesel (0.05% sulphur): R6.19 p/l increase.
- Diesel (0.005% sulphur): R6.19 p/l increase.
- Illuminating Paraffin (wholesale): R4.22 p/l increase
- Single Maximum National Retail Price for Illuminating Paraffin: R5.63 p/l increase.
- Maximum Retail Price of LPGas: R5.07 per kg increase in Gauteng and R5.78 per kg increase in the Western Cape
Providing context for the increases, the Department noted, “The average Brent Crude oil price increased from 93.67 US Dollars (USD) to 101 USD during the period under review. This is due to the continued tension between the US and Iran, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and damage to other crucial infrastructure, which has affected crude oil supply. The average international product prices followed the increasing trend of crude oil prices.”
Moreover, the DMPR indicated that middle distillates, namely diesel and paraffin, have risen more sharply than petrol.
This, it said, is largely due to heightened demand and constrained supply from the Persian Gulf, which has intensified pricing pressure across these fuel categories. As a result, these factors contributed to increases in the Basic Fuel Price of petrol, diesel and illuminating paraffin by R2.04 per litre, R4.96 per litre and R4.21 per litre, respectively.
“The prices of Propane and Butane increased during the period under review due to limited global supply since the closure of the Strait of Hormuz,” the department said. It further noted that the rand remained relatively stable against the US dollar during the same period, resulting in a “contribution of less than one cent per litre to the Basic Fuel Prices of petrol, diesel and Illuminating Paraffin”.
However, the impact is immediate and direct, translating into yet another round of sustained pressure at the pump. While temporary relief measures may offer brief breathing space, drivers remain exposed to sharp and often unpredictable price swings that feed straight into daily transport expenses, leaving households and commuters with little insulation against ongoing global shocks driving fuel volatility.
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