Current pump prices
October's increase was driven almost entirely by Brent crude's jump to around $101 a barrel, not the slate levy, which moved only 4.38c/l this time. Watch Brent crude and the rand-dollar rate into November — if crude holds near current levels or the rand weakens from its flat October average, there's little levy buffer left to absorb another shock. This section updates when CEF mid-month data is published.
What changed in October 2026
October 2026 delivered the biggest single-month jump of the year on every grade, and inland 95 petrol broke R30 a litre for the first time. Petrol 93 rose R3.12/l and 95 rose R3.33/l, diesel jumped R2.84/l (500ppm) and R3.24/l (50ppm), illuminating paraffin rose roughly R3.58/l wholesale, and LP gas increased 42c/kg nationally (48c/kg in the Western Cape).
The driver this time was overwhelmingly crude oil, not the rand or the slate levy. Brent crude surged from an average of $87.89 to around $101 a barrel over the review period — one of the sharpest single-month moves of the year — on continued Middle East conflict and reduced Russian output following strikes on export infrastructure. That alone added roughly 329c/l to petrol's Basic Fuel Price and 280c/l to diesel's.
Unlike September, the rand provided almost no relief — it was essentially flat over the review period (average R16.21/$, barely changed from the prior period), which meant none of October's increase was cushioned by currency movement the way August's and September's partly were.
Two levy-side changes also applied, though both were minor next to crude's impact. The slate levy rose 4.38c/l, from 83.28c/l to 87.66c/l, as the cumulative slate balance remained negative — R10.456 billion at the end of August. Diesel remains the more exposed grade on international shipping and refining risk, consistent with the pattern since July, though this month petrol moved by nearly as much in rand terms.
Inland, a 60-litre tank of petrol 95 now costs R1,815.00 — about R199.80 more than September. A 70-litre diesel tank (typical Hilux or Fortuner) costs roughly R2,236.50 at the wholesale reference price — about R198.80 more than September. At the coast a 60-litre tank of 95 costs R1,762.80.
Inland vs coastal prices — October 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) | R29.88/l | R29.09/l | ▲ R3.12 |
| Petrol 95 (ULP & LRP) | R30.25/l | R29.38/l | ▲ R3.33 |
| Diesel 0.05% / 500ppm (wholesale) | R31.95/l | R31.08/l | ▲ R2.84 |
| Diesel 0.005% / 50ppm (wholesale) | R33.29/l | R32.03/l | ▲ R3.24 |
| Illuminating paraffin (wholesale) | R24.47/l | R23.41/l | ▲ R3.58 |
| LP gas (per kg) | R37.81 | R34.61 | ▲ 42c |
All figures effective 7 October 2026, per the DMPR announcement. Diesel and paraffin figures are wholesale reference prices — pump prices are set by each retailer and will be higher. Paraffin and LP gas figures are derived from the DMPR-confirmed cent-per-litre/kg increase applied to September's published base price, cross-checked against independent reporting where available — treat them as reliable but not a direct DMPR line-item quote the way the petrol/diesel figures are. LP gas at Saldanha is R37.08/kg.
Why you might pay more than these prices at the pump
Petrol in South Africa is price-regulated — the DMPR sets a single maximum retail price per zone, and every garage in that zone sells at exactly that price. The petrol figures on this page are not just a wholesale reference — they're the actual legal pump price you'll see at any station, inland or coastal.
Diesel works differently. South Africa deregulated diesel retail pricing, so the diesel figures published by the DMPR (and shown on this page) are a wholesale reference price, not a legal maximum. Each retailer sets its own forecourt diesel price on top of that reference, covering transport, retail margin and local competition — which is why diesel at the pump reliably costs more than the wholesale figure above, and why it can vary from one station or brand to the next.
In early October 2026, a reader reported paying R35.15/l for 50ppm diesel at an Astron Energy forecourt — about R1.86/l above that month's R33.29/l inland wholesale reference price (R3.20/l above the 500ppm figure). The same reader's petrol that day was priced in the high R29s, matching the regulated price almost exactly, as expected. One station on one day isn't a national average — South Africa has no published national average diesel pump price, since retailers aren't required to report forecourt prices centrally — but it's a real, representative illustration of why your actual diesel bill will run higher than the wholesale figures above, while your petrol bill won't.
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 — or worsens.
In October the levy rose a modest 4.38c/l, from 83.28c/l to 87.66c/l, as the cumulative slate balance stayed negative — R10.456 billion at the end of August. That's a far smaller move than September's 21.90c/l jump, and this month the levy was a minor factor next to crude oil's much larger impact on the Basic Fuel Price.
September's levy swing was the headline story that month. October is different: the slate levy barely moved, but Brent crude's jump from $87.89 to around $101 a barrel overwhelmed everything else. That matters for what to watch next — the levy has limited room left to either help or hurt further, so November's outcome will depend much more on where crude and the rand go than on this particular mechanism.
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 | R25.42/l | ▼ 52c | R26.17/l | ▲ R1.39 |
| September 2026 | R26.76/l | ▲ R1.34 | R29.11/l | ▲ R2.94 |
| October 2026 ← current | R29.88/l | ▲ R3.12 | R31.95/l | ▲ R2.84 |
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. October 2026 figures are the official DMPR prices effective 7 October 2026; diesel is the wholesale reference price. For the full September 2026 breakdown, see the September 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 remains 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 October 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 R0.37/l more expensive than 93 inland (R0.29/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 × R29.88 (inland 93) = R3,810/month in fuel.
Petrol breaks R30/l for the first time, and crude is now the whole story
This was the biggest jump of the year on every grade, and it came almost entirely from Brent crude's surge to around $101 a barrel — not the slate levy, which barely moved, and not the rand, which stayed essentially flat. Inland 95 petrol crossed R30/l for the first time ever. If crude stays elevated, there's little cushion left anywhere in the pricing mechanism for November.
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 November 2026 announcement is expected around around 26-31 October 2026, with prices effective from Wednesday 4 November 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.
Frequently asked questions
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Get the Complete Inspection Guide Bundle — R299 →This guide is general information for South African motorists, not official confirmation. Fuel prices are set monthly by the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources (DMPR) and differ by fuel zone. Always confirm the current price at the pump or via the DMPR's official schedule before budgeting.