🔥 Gündem South Africa Petrol Price: What to Expect in September

South African motorists are facing significant fuel price increases in September 2026, with both petrol and diesel prices expected to rise sharply ¹²⁴. These increases are primarily driven by elevated international oil prices, largely due to ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and volatile oil markets ¹⁵⁶.

Expected Price Hikes for September 2026

The Central Energy Fund (CEF) predicts substantial increases for both petrol and diesel ⁵. While the exact final figures will be confirmed at the end of August, current forecasts indicate considerable changes:

• Petrol: Increases are anticipated to be up to 90 cents per litre ². Specifically, Petrol 95 is projected to see an increase of 77c to 85c per litre ⁷. Petrol 93 could see an increase of approximately 40c to 63c per litre, with an estimated inland price of around R25.82/litre ⁸.
• Diesel: Diesel prices are expected to experience an even steeper surge, with predictions of a massive ~R3.00 per litre increase ⁷. This significant jump in diesel prices is likely to have a broader economic impact across South Africa ⁷.

Factors Influencing the Price Increases

Several key factors contribute to these projected fuel price hikes:

• International Oil Prices: Global crude oil prices remain high, primarily due to geopolitical tensions, particularly the ongoing conflict in the Middle East ¹⁵⁶.
• Exchange Rate: The rand's performance against the US dollar also plays a role in determining local fuel prices ³.
• Refining Costs and Levies: Other components include refining costs, distribution costs, and various government levies and taxes ³.

The official changes are expected to take effect at midnight on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, assuming current under-recoveries hold until the end of August ⁸. These increases will add noticeably to the cost of filling up vehicles for South African drivers ⁷.