If you thought September’s official petrol and diesel price hike was bad, October’s fuel price predictions will have you wishing you’d stayed there. According to the latest snapshot from the Central Energy Fund (CEF), captured on 10 September, South Africa’s fuel pumps are due for another hike. As much as R2/l, in the case of petrol.
Petrol could take a beating in October
Things aren’t looking much better for diesel, though the outlook has certainly improved since the last time we did this. Then, a R2.41/l increase was on the cards for diesel prices. A week later, the numbers point to something slightly more palatable. See, the CEF’s figures (below) are purely predictive and are subject to change.
They do, however, offer Saffas an accurate glimpse at the coming fuel price adjustments for the following month. In conjunction with the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources (DMPR), the CEF tracks those economic factors that most influence the price of fuel locally, and provides daily snapshots to the public.
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The average price of oil globally is the largest contributor to South Africa’s fuel price adjustments. The other is the Rand/US Dollar exchange rate, with the Rand weakening slightly over the last week. With Crude Oil prices reaching as high as $106/barrel on Friday, it seems likely that the predicted fuel prices will continue to surge.
Should the current predictions for the price of fuel stand ’til the first week of October, motorists could be faced with the most expensive petrol prices in the country’s history, rising to R29.06/l in the case of unleaded 95. Previously, that record was held by June 2026, when petrol prices soared to R28.06. Take us back. Please?
Here are the petrol and diesel price predictions (so far) for October 2026:
- Petrol 93: increase of 202 cents per litre (R2.02)
- Petrol 95: increase of 214 cents per litre (R2.14)
- Diesel 0.05%: increase of 171 cents per litre (R1.71)
- Diesel 0.005%: increase of 205 cents per litre (R2.05)
- Illuminating Paraffin: increase of 218 cents per litre (R2.18)
