By South African motorists and businesses face a severe inflation blow this September as the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources announced substantial price increases across all major fuel categories.
Escalating Middle East tensions, ongoing European conflict, and domestic cost adjustments have converged to trigger a sharp upward adjustment at the pumps starting Wednesday, 2 September 2026.
The September Price Breakdown
Beginning midnight on Tuesday, consumers will see double-digit and triple-digit per-litre increases across all fuel types:
- Petrol (93 & 95 ULP & LRP): Up by 134.00 cents per litre (R1.34/l).
- Diesel (0.05% Sulphur): Up by 293.90 cents per litre (R2.94/l).
- Diesel (0.005% Sulphur): Up by 314.90 cents per litre (R3.15/l).
- Illuminating Paraffin (Wholesale): Up by 213.00 cents per litre (R2.13/l).
- Single Maximum National Retail Price (SMNRP) for IP: Up by 284.00 cents per litre (R2.84/l).
- LPGas (Maximum Retail Price): Up by 69.00 cents per kilogram nationally, and 79.00 cents per kilogram in the Western Cape.
| Fuel Product | Price Adjustment (Effective 2 Sept 2026) |
| Petrol 93 & 95 (ULP & LRP) | +134.00 c/l (+R1.34) |
| Diesel 0.05% Sulphur | +293.90 c/l (+R2.94) |
| Diesel 0.005% Sulphur | +314.90 c/l (+R3.15) |
| Illuminating Paraffin (Wholesale) | +213.00 c/l (+R2.13) |
| LPGas (Retail) | +69.00 c/kg (+79.00 c/kg Western Cape) |
Key Market Drivers Behind the Spike
The monthly adjustment reflects a mix of global geopolitical pressures, international market dynamics, and domestic regulatory updates.
International Pressures: Oil and Refined Products
- Rising Crude Oil Costs: The average Brent Crude oil price jumped from $82.37 to $87.88 per barrel during the review period. Escalating US/Iran tensions and heightening risks surrounding shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz drove up international freight and crude benchmarks.
- Global Supply Tightness: Continued conflict between Russia and Ukraine, combined with low global refined product inventories, created acute supply shortages. This contributed significantly to the Basic Fuel Price (BFP) components—adding 127.79 c/l to petrol, 321.29 c/l to diesel, and 239.06 c/l to illuminating paraffin.
Domestic Factors & Local Levies
- Exchange Rate Buffer: A strengthening Rand provided minor relief. The local currency appreciated from R16.46 to R16.21 per US Dollar on average, softening the crude hit by 21.07 c/l on petrol and 29.06 c/l on diesel.
- Slate Levy Hike: A negative cumulative balance of R9.519 billion in the petrol and diesel slate account forced a levy increase under the Self-Adjusting Slate Levy Mechanism. The slate levy rises by 21.90 c/l (from 61.38 c/l to 83.28 c/l).
- Forecourt Staff Wage Adjustment: Petrol prices include a 4.9 c/l increase (to 320.0 c/l) to accommodate forecourt wage increases agreed upon under the Motor Industry Bargaining Council (MIBCO) settlement.
Economic Implications
The steep rise in diesel—exceeding R3.00 per litre for low-sulphur variants—will directly affect commercial transport, logistics, agriculture, and manufacturing. Second-round inflationary pressures are likely to follow as freight operators pass higher distribution costs onto consumer goods and food prices. Meanwhile, the increase in illuminating paraffin and LPGas adds immediate pressure on low-income households reliant on these fuels for heating and cooking.
