Government temporarily cuts fuel levies by R3/l for diesel and R1.50/l for petrol this November

In what has been a rocky year for South Africa’s fuel pumps, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana has confirmed yet another round of relief for motorists, set to kick in from 4 November 2026. As a purely temporary measure, the national fuel levy will be reduced by R3/l for diesel and R1.50/l for petrol next month until 1 December 2026. Thereafter, the relief will continue to provide support for motorists at a lower amount until 5 January 2027.

“To provide temporary relief, the fuel levy will be reduced by R3 per litre for diesel and R1.50 per litre for petrol from 4 November 2026 up until to 1 December 2026. Thereafter, the relief will continue at a lower amount until 5 January 2027. The diesel levy will be reduced by R1.50 per litre, and the petrol levy by R1 per litre,” said Godongwana.

Not out of the pumps yet

Godongwana confirmed as much during the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement on 21 October. The finance minister continued, stating that the relief will cost R10 billion in “foregone revenue”. He also said that the R10 billion that was transferred to the Central Energy Fund (CEF) will be returned to the National Revenue Fund.

“This intervention will help ease cost-of-living pressures without compromising the sustainability of the budget,” he continued. You can say that again. While many will rejoice at the minister’s words (diesel drivers, primarily), there’s a chance that petrol drivers will still see a small price hike, despite the R1.50/l measures implemented.

According to the most recent data from the CEF (captured 20 October), petrol is facing a R1.59/l and R1.52/l increase for 93 and 95 petrol grades, respectively. Even with the government’s help, a minor increase is still on the cards. With a few weeks to go before the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources (DMPR) officially adjusts fuel prices for November, there’s a possibility petrol drivers will experience some (very slight) relief.

At the beginning of October, petrol prices rocketed past R30/l for the first time in South Africa. Diesel, meanwhile, touched R33.29/l, leading to improved relief for that portion of motorists. We’ve included the most recent fuel price predictions for November, courtesy of the CEF.