The government will reduce fuel levies from November 4 to ease the burden of high fuel prices on motorists and businesses
Since the beginning of 2026, South African motorists have been hit by high fuel prices. The most recent increase came at the beginning of October, when the Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources announced that the price of petrol 93 would increase by R3.12 per litre, while petrol 95 would rise by R3.33 per litre.
This is a steep increase, not only for transport operators but also for ordinary South Africans who are already struggling to make ends meet.
To ease the burden, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana announced that the government would introduce temporary fuel levy relief from November 4 to December 1, 2026.
“To provide temporary relief, the fuel levy will be reduced by R3 per litre for diesel and R1.50 per litre for petrol from 4 November 2026 up until 1 December 2026. Thereafter, the relief will continue at a lower amount until 5 January 2027. The diesel levy will be reduced by R1.50 per litre and the petrol levy by R1 per litre,” he said.
The temporary relief is expected to provide some breathing room for motorists and businesses facing rising fuel costs. For the logistics sector, in particular, diesel prices are a major operating expense, with increases often putting pressure on transport rates and the cost of moving goods.