Fuel price hike for on the cards for May

The ongoing war on Iran by the United States of America and Israel, along with the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and damage to key oil infrastructure, has again driven up local fuel prices.  

Both grades of petrol will increase by R3.27 per litre, while diesel rises by R6.19 a litre. Illuminating paraffin will go up by R4.22 per litre.  

The Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources made the announcement on Monday morning, with the new prices set to take effect at midnight on Wednesday. 

The latest hikes follow a surge in global oil costs, with Brent crude averaging $101 a barrel during the review period.  

Department spokesperson Robert Maake said temporary relief measures from Treasury helped prevent even steeper increases. 

Maake said: "Due to the ongoing US-Iran conflict, which continues to affect fuel prices globally, the Minister of Finance in consultation with the Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources announced a further temporary reduction in the general fuel levy of 3.00c/l to be implemented in the price structures of petrol and R3.93c/l for diesel from the 6th of May 2026 to the 2nd June 2026."