Current pump prices
Two things to watch into September. The slate levy has now been cut to 61.38c/l, so there is far less room left in that mechanism to absorb another shock. And diesel is the exposed grade: Russian export restrictions and Middle East refineries running below capacity are supply-side problems that a falling Brent price does not automatically fix. This section updates when CEF mid-month data is published.
What changed in August 2026
August 2026 split the country in two. Petrol motorists got a small cut of 52 cents per litre on both 93 and 95, while diesel users were hit with one of the sharpest single-month increases of the year — R1.38/l on 500ppm and R1.23/l on 50ppm. Illuminating paraffin rose R1.52/l. LP gas was the one clear winner, falling R4.41 per kilogram.
The month was dominated by the collapse of the US–Iran ceasefire talks. Renewed US strikes shut the Strait of Hormuz again mid-July and pushed Brent crude back towards $100 a barrel before it settled around $83. Averaged across the review period, Brent still came in lower than the month before — down from $86.53 to $82.37 — which is why petrol did not spike.
Diesel is a different market. International diesel product prices rose over the review period because Russia restricted diesel exports and several Middle East refineries ran below capacity. That added 182.62c/l to diesel's basic fuel price on its own. The rand also weakened slightly, from R16.34 to R16.46 to the dollar, adding a further 8.14c/l to diesel and 6.37c/l to petrol.
Petrol only avoided an increase because government cut the slate levy by 52.56c/l. Without that intervention, petrol would most likely have gone up this month rather than down.
Inland, a 60-litre tank of petrol 95 now costs R1,534.80 — about R31.20 less than in July. A 70-litre diesel tank (typical Hilux or Fortuner) costs roughly R1,831.90 at the wholesale reference price — about R97.30 more than July. At the coast a 60-litre tank of 95 costs R1,482.60.
Inland vs coastal prices — August 2026
South Africa has two regulated price zones. Coastal prices are lower because fuel does not have to be transported inland from the ports and refineries. If you are in the Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal or the Eastern Cape you pay the coastal price; Gauteng, the Free State, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West and the Northern Cape pay inland.
| Grade | Inland | Coastal | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol 93 (ULP & LRP) | R25.42/l | R24.63/l | ▼ 52c |
| Petrol 95 (ULP & LRP) | R25.58/l | R24.71/l | ▼ 52c |
| Diesel 0.05% / 500ppm (wholesale) | R26.17/l | R25.30/l | ▲ R1.39 |
| Diesel 0.005% / 50ppm (wholesale) | R26.90/l | R25.64/l | ▲ R1.23 |
| Illuminating paraffin (wholesale) | R18.76/l | R17.70/l | ▲ R1.52 |
| LP gas (per kg) | R36.70 | R33.44 | ▼ R4.41 |
All figures effective 5 August 2026, per the DMPR announcement. Diesel and paraffin figures are wholesale reference prices — pump prices are set by each retailer and will be higher. LP gas at Saldanha is R35.81/kg.
How SA fuel prices are set
South Africa uses a regulated fuel pricing system. Prices are set by the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources (DMPR), announced in the last week of each month, and take effect on the first Wednesday of the following month.
The calculation combines three components: the Basic Fuel Price (BFP), which reflects the international import cost of refined fuel plus shipping; government levies (general fuel levy, Road Accident Fund levy, customs and excise); and the slate levy, which recovers historical under-recoveries across the industry.
Petrol 93 is the standard grade for most of SA. Petrol 95 is required on the coast (Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal) because higher altitude inland areas require a lower-octane fuel at the same combustion ratio. The coast requires 95. Most inland vehicles run perfectly on 93. Never put 93 in a turbocharged or high-compression engine that specifies 95.
The slate levy explained
The slate levy is unique to SA's pricing structure. It exists because the regulated price can fall below the actual import cost of fuel, creating a "negative slate" — effectively a debt owed to fuel importers. The slate levy is a mechanism to recover that debt gradually, and it self-adjusts as the balance improves.
This is the mechanism that rescued petrol prices in August. The cumulative slate balance improved sharply, to negative R7.418 billion at the end of June 2026 (from negative R13.32 billion at the end of May). Under the Self-Adjusting Slate Levy Mechanism, that allowed the levy to drop from 113.94c/l to 61.38c/l — a 52.56c/l cut, which is almost exactly the 52c petrol motorists got back at the pump.
Petrol's 52c decrease came almost entirely from the slate levy cut, not from cheaper fuel. Underlying petrol recoveries swung from an over-recovery of about R2.50/l to roughly break-even during July. With the slate levy now down to 61.38c/l, there is far less headroom left in that mechanism if crude spikes again.
Recent price history — petrol 93
| Month | Petrol 93 | Change | Diesel 500ppm | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 2026 | R23.30/l | — | R22.15/l | — |
| March 2026 | R24.85/l | ▲ R1.55 | R23.90/l | ▲ R1.75 |
| April 2026 | R26.52/l | ▲ R1.67 | R25.44/l | ▲ R1.54 |
| May 2026 | R26.52/l | — (relief applied) | R31.17/l | ▲ R5.27 |
| June 2026 | R27.95/l | ▲ R1.43 | R27.92/l | ▼ R3.25 |
| July 2026 | R25.94/l | ▼ R2.01 | R24.78/l | ▼ R3.14 |
| August 2026 ← current | R25.42/l | ▼ 52c | R26.17/l | ▲ R1.39 |
Table shows petrol 93 inland and diesel 500ppm inland as the primary reference grades. May diesel figure reflects the R5.27/l increase effective 6 May 2026. August 2026 figures are the official DMPR prices effective 5 August 2026; diesel is the wholesale reference price. For the full July 2026 breakdown, see the July 2026 fuel price archive.
How fuel costs affect your car purchase decision
Running costs are one of the most underestimated factors in the total cost of ownership calculation for South African car buyers. At current prices, the difference between a 7L/100km petrol hatchback and a 10L/100km V6 SUV is roughly R500–R800 per month in fuel alone, depending on monthly kilometres driven.
When evaluating a used car purchase, factor in:
- Average fuel consumption (L/100km) from manufacturer specs — add 10–15% for real-world SA driving
- Petrol vs diesel: diesel is currently more expensive per litre than petrol inland, and diesel engines also cost more to maintain and repair — the old "diesel saves you money" assumption does not hold at August 2026 prices unless you cover very high mileage
- Tank size: a larger tank means fewer fill-ups but higher cash outlay per fill
- Turbocharged engines: most require 95 octane, which is R0.16/l more expensive than 93 inland (R0.08/l at the coast)
- Monthly kilometre estimate × L/100km ÷ 100 × current price = monthly fuel budget
Monthly km ÷ 100 × consumption (L/100km) × fuel price per litre = monthly fuel cost. Example: 1,500 km/month ÷ 100 × 8.5 L/100km × R25.42 (inland 93) = R3,241/month in fuel.
Petrol treads water, diesel takes the hit
Petrol's 52c cut is real but small, and it came from a slate levy adjustment rather than cheaper fuel. Diesel gave back nearly half of July's big drop in one month, driven by Russian export restrictions and refinery capacity rather than crude prices. If you run a diesel bakkie or a fleet, budget for the increase to hold.
When is the next fuel price announcement?
South Africa's fuel price cycle follows a fixed pattern: the DMPR publishes the official adjustment in the last week of each month, with the new price taking effect on the first Wednesday of the following month. The September 2026 announcement is expected around 26–31 August 2026, with prices effective from Wednesday 2 September 2026.
This page is updated on the day of each official DMPR announcement. Bookmark it and check back on the first Wednesday of each month.
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