South African motorists will pay more for petrol, diesel, and illuminating paraffin from Wednesday, 7 October 2026, following official price increases announced by the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources. The adjustments come after a surge in Brent crude oil prices and tighter international supply conditions.
The department reported the average Brent crude oil price rose from 87.89 US dollars to 101 US dollars during the latest review period, directly influencing local fuel costs. “The increase is due to the continued US/Iran tensions, uncertainty regarding the flow of oil through the Strait of Hormuz, higher shipping costs and decreasing inventories,” the department said in a media statement released on 5 October.
International prices for petrol, diesel, and paraffin climbed as a result of supply shortages exacerbated by lower global inventories. The adjustments will see petrol 95 prices increase by 333 cents per litre and diesel prices rise by over 300 cents per litre depending on the grade, with wholesale illuminating paraffin up by 358 cents per litre.
Specifically, petrol 93 will rise by 312 cents, 0.05% sulphur diesel by 284.38 cents, and 0.005% sulphur diesel by 324.38 cents per litre. These increases reflect tight supply conditions internationally and higher logistical costs.
The department also noted that the cumulative fuel price containment mechanism (slate levy) reached a negative balance of R10.45 billion by the end of August 2026, necessitating a levy of 87.66 cents per litre to stabilise prices. Although the South African rand appreciated slightly against the US dollar over the price review period, this had minimal offsetting effect on the overall fuel price rise.
Following the announcement, inland petrol 95 prices are expected to cross R30.25 per litre with 50ppm diesel hitting R33.20 per litre, reaching new record levels for consumers. The department confirmed that the detailed fuel-price schedules per magisterial district zone will be published on 6 October, ahead of the price change taking effect nationwide the next day.
While the government has confirmed the price rises are driven by external factors such as Brent crude market volatility and global supply disruptions linked to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, there is no official local reporting yet on how this will affect specific Cape Flats communities or petrol stations. The broader economic impact on inflation and household budgets remains to be analysed following these official changes.
The Cape Flats News journalist will continue to monitor price developments and report on any community impact in Cape Town as the new fuel prices take effect on 7 October.