By this time next week, the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) will have installed December’s official petrol and diesel prices at pumps across South Africa. However, the final decision is likely to be made this Friday, 28 November, meaning the Central Energy Fund’s (CEF) latest predictions are, unfortunately, relatively close to the final product.

Petrol and diesel take a dive for the holidays

While the DMRE typically reaches a final verdict internally on the final Friday of each month, it typically publishes the official adjustments the following week, ahead of the official adjustment. As ever, these adjustments will go into effect on the first Wednesday of the new month — in this case, Wednesday, 3 December.

The CEF, in conjunction with the DMRE, tracks the economic factors that influence the price of fuel locally. Using this data, it publishes daily predictive snapshots, offering South African motorists accurate insights into the coming adjustments, and allowing them to plan. The latest predictions (captured 25 November) promise a rough month for all motorists, though diesel drivers will bear the brunt of the increase.

Those factors include the average Rand/US Dollar exchange rate throughout any given month, as well as the average price of oil globally. Despite the Rand holding firm against the Dollar through November, growing tensions around the world have put pressure on oil prices — not to mention an increased demand for diesel during winter months in the Northern hemisphere.

Keep an eye on Stuff for the latest fuel predictions, as well as the DMRE’s December fuel price adjustments.

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