South African Fuel Prices Set to Rise Amid Middle East Crisis
South African motorists will face higher fuel costs from September 2, 2026, due to a combination of international and local factors. The average Brent crude oil price rose from $82.37 to $87.88 per barrel during the review period.
The Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources attributed the increase to continued US-Iran tensions, uncertainty over oil movement through the Strait of Hormuz, and higher shipping costs, all of which place upward pressure on the cost of petrol, diesel, and other petroleum products.
International prices for petrol, diesel, and illuminating paraffin also rose during the review period, linked to supply shortages tied to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and lower global inventories of petroleum products. This added 127.79 cents per litre to petrol's Basic Fuel Price, 321.29 cents per litre to diesel, and 239.06 cents per litre to illuminating paraffin.
The Self-Adjusting Slate Levy will climb to 83.28 cents per litre from 61.38 cents, an increase of 21.90 cents per litre, effective September 2. This mechanism works by clawing back accumulated shortfalls through higher levies over time, meaning motorists effectively absorb the cost of prior under-recoveries once the balance grows large enough to trigger an adjustment.