South Africa’s motorists will face at higher prices at the pumps this month after the Department of Petroleum and Mineral Resources announced fuel price increases that will take effect from midnight on Tuesday, 3 March.
According to the department, petrol prices will rise by 20 cents per litre, while diesel prices will increase by between 60 and 65 cents per litre, depending on the grade.
The hopes of a reduction in price – as was the case in January and February this year – have been tempered by a recent increase in Brent crude oil prices, driven largely by ongoing geopolitical tensions between the United States and Iran.
This was been offset in part by a stronger rand exchange rate against the dollar.
Breakdown of the Increase
Meanwhile, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana announced an inflation-linked increase in fuel levies, adding a total of 21 cents per litre to the price of fuel, during his 2026 Budget Speech last Wednesday.
The 21-cent per litre increase is made up as follows:
- General fuel levy:
- Up by 9 cents per litre for petrol (to R4.10/litre)
- Up by 8 cents per litre for diesel (to R3.93/litre)
- Carbon fuel levy:
- Up by 5 cents per litre for petrol
- Up by 6 cents per litre for diesel
- Road Accident Fund (RAF) levy:
- Up by 7 cents per litre to R2.25/litre
The combined adjustments will push total fuel-related taxes on petrol and diesel higher from the start of the new financial year.
| FUEL | PRICE CHANGE |
| Petrol 93 | increase of 20 cents |
| Petrol 95 | increase of 20 cents |
| Diesel 0.05% | increase of 62 cents |
| Diesel 0.005% | increase of 65 cents |
| Illuminating Paraffin | increase of 44 cents |
FUEL PRICE IN SOUTH AFRICA IMPACTED BY TWO MAIN FACTORS:
1. The international price of petroleum products, driven mainly by oil prices
2. The rand/dollar exchange rate used in the purchase of these products
Oil price
At the time of publishing the brent crude oil price is $78.54 a barrel.
Exchange rate
At the time of publishing the rand/dollar exchange rate is R16.07/$.
The new March 2026 petrol and diesel prices (Inland and Coastal):
| INLAND | February | March |
| Petrol 93 | R19.99 | R20.19 |
| Petrol 95 | R20.10 | R20.30 |
| Diesel 0.05% | R17.91 | R18.53 |
| Diesel 0.005% | R17.95 | R18.60 |
| Illuminating Paraffin | R12.10 | R12.54 |
| COASTAL | February | March |
| Petrol 93 | R19.20 | R19.40 |
| Petrol 95 | R19.27 | R19.47 |
| Diesel 0.05% | R17.08 | R17.70 |
| Diesel 0.005% | R17.19 | R17.84 |
| Illuminating Paraffin | R11.08 | R11.52 |
