Fuel Price Shock: Diesel Hits R30 a Litre for the First Time

South Africans face record fuel hikes from Wednesday, with petrol rising by R1.34 a litre and diesel breaching R30 a litre inland — squeezing motorists and consumers alike.

By NOSIPHO SOSIBO and MANDISA MHLONGO

DURBAN: South Africans bear the brunt of the Middle East war once again this week as fuel prices take a steep rise, with diesel touching the R30 a litre benchmark for the first time ever.

Motorists in particular will feel the pinch in their pockets while consumers in general will see a huge rise in food and other essential products. Petrol will rise by R1.34 a litre, while diesel will climb by R3.15, reaching R30.05 inland. Illuminating paraffin increases by R2.13 a litre, and LPGas rises by 69c per kilogram.

On top of global oil shocks, the government’s slate levy has climbed to 83.28c per litre, directly adding to the burden at the pump and leaving motorists and households with no relief.

Since the Iran‑USA‑Israel war began in February, consumers across the globe have felt the ripple effects of the conflict. Brent crude oil surged from US$82.37 to US$87.88 per barrel in August, while the slate levy rose to 83.28c/litre, compounding local costs.

A number of motorists told The Quest the hike will affect them negatively, with some considering joining lift clubs instead of driving alone.

Udisha Chotoo, a 23‑year‑old Durban teacher, said the hike comes at a time when motorists are at the end of their tether.

“These are very hard times. I drive a small car because of fuel cost, but the recent hikes have been too much. Now you have to choose between filling the tank and buying food,” she said.

Linda Radebe, a Durban‑based veteran prosecutor, blamed the war in Iran for South Africa’s woes.

“It is a pity that we are all suffering because of a faraway war in which we have no say. Personally, these hikes have been very painful because now you cannot budget. I used to do a full tank but now I just fill up whatever I can afford,” he said.

SIDEBAR

What It Means for Motorists

-         Filling a 50‑litre petrol tank now costs R67 more than last month.

-         Diesel drivers face the sharpest increase — up to R150 more per tank.

-         Taxi and bus operators are expected to raise fares, hitting commuters directly.

-         Trucking companies will pay thousands more monthly, raising delivery costs across industries.

What It Means for Consumers

-         Food prices: Transporting produce from farms to markets becomes more expensive, pushing up grocery bills.

-         Household budgets: Paraffin, used by millions for cooking and heating, rises by over R2 per litre, squeezing low‑income households.

-         Inflation pressure: Analysts warn the hikes could reverse July’s slowdown in inflation (4.3%), reigniting cost‑of‑living pressures. TQ