Petrol Prices Surge in South Africa: Motorists Brace for September Impact
By Editor • August 31, 2026 • 1 min read
South African drivers are facing an unwelcome rise in fuel prices this September, with petrol prices climbing by R1.34 per litre and diesel by R2.94. Despite a strengthening rand against the dollar, the global surge in refined fuel prices has overshadowed any potential savings.
The rand's improvement did provide some relief, reducing the impact of international price hikes by over 20 cents per litre for petrol and nearly 30 cents for diesel. However, the aggressive increases in global fuel prices have resulted in a net under-recovery of R1.06 for petrol and R2.71 for diesel.
From September 2, 2026, petrol prices will reflect the following hikes: Petrol 95 ULP will rise to R26.92 per litre, while Diesel 0.05% Sulphur will hit R29.11. Additional increases include a 4.90 cents per litre rise in retail margins for petrol to accommodate wage hikes for service station employees, along with a 21.90 cents increase due to the Slate Levy, which helps address the country’s fuel import deficit.
The cumulative balance at the end of July 2026 showed a staggering deficit of R9.519 billion, necessitating these price adjustments. Motorists can expect about 80% of the petrol price hike and 93% of the diesel increase to stem from rising international refined product prices, with the remainder attributed to domestic costs.
Source: www.dailymaverick.co.za
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