Both grades of petrol will increase by R1.34 per litre from Wednesday, 2 September 2026, according to a media statement from the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources issued on 28 August 2026. The new inland prices set petrol 93 at R26.76 per litre and petrol 95 at R26.92, with coastal prices at R25.97 and R26.05 respectively.
The department attributed the increase primarily to higher international crude oil prices, with Brent Crude rising from $82.37 to $87.88 during the review period. The rand’s appreciation from R16.46 to R16.21 against the US dollar partially offset the increases but was not enough to prevent the hike.
“The average international product prices of petrol, diesel and illuminating paraffin increased due to supply shortages caused by continued Russia/Ukraine conflict and lower global inventories of products,” the department said in its statement. The conflict has disrupted global energy supply chains since 2022, sustaining upward pressure on fuel costs across import-dependent economies.
The adjustment included a 4.9 cents per litre retail margin increase for petrol and a higher slate levy, rising from 61.38 cents to 83.28 cents per litre. The confirmed petrol figures were independently reported by TimesLIVE, The South African, Engineering News, and eNCA on 31 August 2026, all citing the same department statement.
For motorists, commuters, and minibus taxi operators across the Cape Flats and wider Cape Town, the R1.34 rise adds immediate pressure to household and transport budgets already strained by food and electricity inflation. South Africa’s fuel prices are regulated by government and adjusted monthly based on international oil prices, the rand-dollar exchange rate, and government taxes and levies.
Filling a standard 50-litre tank will cost roughly R67 more from Wednesday, adding to the running costs of commuters and businesses across Cape Town. The increase compounds existing pressure on residents in areas like Khayelitsha, Mitchells Plain, and Gugulethu, where households already allocate significant portions of income to transport.
Exact diesel increases remain subject to minor discrepancies across outlets, with reports varying between R2.93 and R2.94 per litre for 0.05% sulphur diesel. Cape Flats News journalist Nadia Adams will verify the precise diesel figures against the official department statement on Tuesday, 1 September 2026 before the adjustments take effect.