South African Petrol Prices Breach R30 Per Litre Record
South African fuel prices will rise on October 8, pushing 95-grade petrol above R30 per litre for the first time due to global oil volatility.
Fuel prices in South Africa will increase sharply starting Wednesday, October 8, 2026, with 95-grade unleaded petrol exceeding R30 per litre for the first time. The Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources announced that 95-grade petrol will cost R30.25 in Gauteng and inland areas, and R29.38 in coastal regions.
These price hikes are driven by constrained global oil supplies and volatility stemming from the US-Iran war, which has disrupted cargo flow through the Strait of Hormuz. Since March, 95-grade petrol prices have risen nearly 50%, while diesel wholesale prices have increased by 72%.
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) has characterized the surge as a cost-of-living crisis, warning that the hike wipes out wage increases and threatens to raise food and transport costs for working-class families. Henry van der Merwe, national chair of the South African Petroleum Retailers Association, noted that South Africa imports a large share of its refined products, which transmits global volatility directly into local budgets.
In response to the resulting inflation risks, the South African Reserve Bank may implement further interest rate hikes, following previous increases in May and September.
