South African motorists will pay less for petrol from Wednesday, 5 August 2026, after the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources announced a 52 cents per litre reduction for both grades of petrol.
The fuel price adjustment, announced by Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources Gwede Mantashe, brings welcome relief for petrol users, although diesel and illuminating paraffin prices will increase.
From 5 August:
-Petrol 93 (ULP & LRP): Down 52c per litre
-Petrol 95 (ULP & LRP): Down 52c per litre
-Diesel (0.05% sulphur): Up R1.38 per litre
-Diesel (0.005% sulphur): Up R1.23 per litre
-Illuminating Paraffin (wholesale): Up R1.52 per litre
-Maximum Retail Price of LPGas: Down R4.41 per kilogram (R5.03 per kilogram in the Western Cape)
In Gauteng, the price of 95 unleaded petrol will decrease from R26.10 to R25.58 per litre. Along the coast, it will fall from R25.23 to R24.71 per litre.
According to the department, the average Brent crude oil price declined from US$86.53 to US$82.37 per barrel during the review period. While renewed tensions between the United States and Iran briefly pushed oil prices higher, this was offset by lower global demand and the continued impact of the US-Iran ceasefire agreement.
International petrol prices also declined, contributing to the lower Basic Fuel Price for petrol.
However, diesel and illuminating paraffin prices increased due to global supply shortages linked to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which resulted in Russian diesel export restrictions. The department added that reduced refining capacity in the Middle East further tightened supply, pushing diesel prices higher.
