There's a major diesel price hike on the cards for August, petrol prices to be cut

August is shaping up to be an excellent month for some of South Africa’s motorists, according to the latest round of predictions from the Central Energy Fund (CEF). You’ve read the headline: diesel drivers are faced with yet another fuel price hike in August, while the country’s petrol drivers are likely to be treated to a price cut.

Diesel takes a hike

As ever, the CEF’s predictions are just that– predictions. South Africa’s Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) are the country’s official deciders of fuel prices every month. The CEF, however, keeps track of the various economic factors that influence the price of fuel locally, offering the most accurate insight into the coming changes. These changes are typically made official on the first Wednesday of a new month.

Fortunately (for the diesel drivers, that is), that means that the CEF’s figures (below) are not set in stone, and are subject to change, meaning things can still turn around before August rolls around. This is, however, unlikely. The DMRE, and more specifically the CEF, determine the expected fuel prices based on the average Rand/US Dollar exchange rate as well as the price of unrefined oil internationally.

While the Rand has seen little change in recent weeks — helping keep the fuel price from spiralling out of control entirely — it’s the global oil prices hitting diesel drivers the hardest. After prices briefly shot up to $80+ per barrel last month, things quickly cooled, bringing prices back down to a more stable (though still not welcome) $70/barrel. Still, unsettled tensions are contributing mainly to local fuel prices.

Here are the petrol and diesel price predictions (so far) for August 2025: