South African motorists face a sharp petrol and diesel price increase from the first Wednesday of May 2026. Industry forecasts project petrol up between R1.72 and R2.05 per litre and diesel up around R5. Brent crude has surged past US$120 a barrel — the highest level in four years — driven by the US-Iran war and the US naval blockade of Iran.
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South Africa is a net importer of fuel, so the local Basic Fuel Price tracks Brent directly. Treasury halved its temporary fuel relief in April 2026 to R1.50 per litre on petrol and R1.96 on diesel, and the relief falls away completely in July. The official May 2026 fuel price is published by Treasury and the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources on the first Wednesday of the month.
Sources: IOL Motoring, AutoTrader SA, The South African, IOL fuel outlook
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