Petrol prices to rise slightly in December
South African drivers won’t notice much change at the pumps this week, as petrol prices dropped by a mere 1 cent per litre. However, prices are expected to rise again in December.
On Wednesday, 4 November, the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources announced the latest fuel price adjustments, which immediately took effect.
A planned increase of around R1.50 per litre was offset by a temporary government measure, reducing the General Fuel Levy (GFL) by the same amount.
Despite this, prices are set to climb again next month, as the GFL reduction won’t be sufficient to prevent another increase.
Early November data from the Central Energy Fund indicates that petrol and diesel are both facing under-recoveries. Petrol prices may rise between R1.53 and R1.84 per litre, while diesel could increase by R0.19 to R0.54 per litre.
These changes are primarily driven by fluctuations in global oil prices, which have surged since the start of 2026. However, there’s hope for improvement, as Brent Crude prices dropped from $113 to $95 per barrel following the U.S. midterm elections.
Read Also: South Africa’s fuel spending surges despite falling consumption
If this trend persists, petrol prices could stabilize. Yet, the risk remains that renewed U.S. military action against Iran could disrupt Middle Eastern energy supplies.
The government plans to further reduce the GFL in December, but by smaller margins. From 4 November to 1 December, the GFL will be cut by R1.50 per litre for petrol and R3.00 per litre for diesel.
From 2 December to 5 January 2027, these reductions shrink to R1.00 per litre for petrol and R1.50 per litre for diesel. As a result, petrol prices will still rise by 53c to 84c per litre in December.
Diesel users, however, will see a notable decrease next month, ranging from R0.96 to R1.31 per litre.
The table below outlines December’s fuel price adjustments after accounting for relief measures:
Fuel Type
November fuel price
Projected change (with relief)
Expected December price
Petrol 93
R29.87
R0.53
R30.40
Petrol 95
R30.24
R0.84
R31.08
Diesel 0.05% (wholesale)
R30.85, R0.96
R29.89
Diesel 0.005% (wholesale)
R31.60, R1.31
R30.29
