Diesel stays losing

If the CEF’s daily predictive fuel price snapshot captured on 1 April is accurate (and we’re sorry to say that it is), then petrol drivers could be facing yet another R6+ increase. Diesel drivers, once again, get the worst end of the deal, with early predictions currently setting them up for a R14+ per-litre price hike. It’s really that bad.

Of course, there’s still time to turn this ship around. The Central Energy Fund (CEF) tracks those factors that influence the price of fuel on behalf of the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) before it officially adjusts the country’s fuel pumps. This typically takes place on the first Wednesday of the new month.

In this case, that’d be 6 May 2026, leaving a little over a month for things to sort themselves out. It’s unlikely, but we can dream, can’t we? The CEF specifically tracks things like the price of oil globally, as well as the average Rand/US Dollar exchange rate over any given month. Neither of these is looking so hot right now, really.

With the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, oil reserves are slowly drying up all over the globe. Prices are fluctuating wildly, leading to the rough (in two senses of the word) estimates provided by the CEF below. Check back with Stuff regularly to get an idea of how South Africa’s petrol and diesel prices are shaping up this May.

Here are the petrol and diesel price predictions (so far) for May 2026:

• Petrol 93: increase of 593 cents per litre (R5.93)
• Petrol 95: increase of 630 cents per litre (R6.30)
• Diesel 0.05%: increase of 1,485 cents per litre (R14.85)
• Diesel 0.005%: increase of 1,491 cents per litre (R14.91)
• Illuminating Paraffin: increase of 1,395 cents per litre (R13.95)

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That may take a while, though. The RS 5 PHEV has been announced for Europe so far, with a starting price of R2.08 million (€106,200) for the sedan model and R2.11 million (€107,850) for the RS 5 Avant. It’ll ship to that region this year, but South African availability isn’t known.

Ride the lightning RS 5

Since it’s an Audi, you’re likely to pay attention to the engine first. The German company is sticking a 375kW 2.9-litre V6 twin-turbo inside the RS 5, augmenting it with a 130kW electric motor. That’ll give drivers 470kW (even if the math isn’t mathing) of output. Running purely on the electric motor renders 80km of range. Plus, stealth capabilities.

The front end is designed with airflow in mind, while a selection of RS-branded additions has this vehicle ready for the track. That’s where you’re supposed to drive it like a maniac. RS sport exhausts and suspension, the latter featuring twin-valve shocks, and RS-spec steering should help drivers make their corners. An eight-speed hybrid gearbox, rear aerodynamic diffuser, and “a completely new rear transaxle with electro-mechanical torque vectoring – a world first in a production model” should also help.

Audi’s new PHEV will take drivers up to 285km/h, but they’ll have to pay for it. The increased top speed comes as part of the company’s Sport package, which also adds custom front and rear bumpers and “two-tone diamond-cut phantom black 21-inch wheels with matte accents.” The package also spruces up the interior with unique “Serpentine green and brass’ stitching. Exterior elements include customised paint jobs, including a new metallic Bedford green (whatever that is) finish. RS ceramic brakes and bronze calipers are also included. Obviously, you’re supposed to opt for the greener hues for the best visual effect.

The RS 5’s interior sports one of Audi’s 14.5in MMI touch displays, optimised for track days. It can, according to the company, “analyze and store sector times” — preferably not while you’re taking laps.

Audi has loads more detail on the interplay between its electric and traditional motors at its official announcement.

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It enters the segment not as an alternative, but as the strongest contender of 2026,” Changang said (via TopAuto). “This is not about offering ‘good enough for the price’, it is about completely challenging expectations of what buyers should expect at this level – and then delivering on that.”

A Changan of heart?

On the bottom rung sits the Uni-S CS, though it shares the same 4.5m body and 745l of luggage space with the rest of the Uni-S crew. Starting at R390,000, the Uni-S range hopes to entice motorists with a 1.5l “turbocharged” engine that’ll ply the roads with 138kW of power and 300Nm of torque — paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. It’s supported by a multi-link independent rear suspension for a smoother ride.

Even if all the models are equally powerful, their innards and exteriors… aren’t. The core-level CS employs 18in alloy rims, with LED lighting to go with them. Head inside and you’ll find a 12.8in infotainment display and a 10.25in digital cluster. CarPlay and Android Auto are supported, as is the ‘AI Elf voice assistant’. We’d rather not ask about that.

It’s not a bad deal, considering the CS trim also adds electronic park brakes, rear parking sensors, ‘park simulation video display’, and a 540° panoramic camera system. Cruise control is available, as is the ability to locate your car using a mobile phone over Bluetooth.

Then there’s the Uni-S CL, demanding R430,000 before it’ll come home with you. It keeps everything that defines the CS, but adds more safety systems.

Those would be Forward Collision Warning and Autonomous Emergency Braking. It’s also kitted out with adaptive cruise control and pedestrian recognition — because that sounds cool for the pedestrian. Integrated Adaptive Cruise, Traffic Sign Recognition, and Lane Keeping Assist round out the Uni-S CS spec sheet.

I know (Uni-S) CS

Finally, the Belle of the ball — the Uni-S CE. It sets itself apart visually with 19in alloy rims, while a host of additional rear parking sensors complete the vision. That means a full complement of ADAS features, like Blind Spot Detection, Lane Change Assist, Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, and Rear Collision Warning.

All that for R470,000. It seems to us that if you’re an old-school driver who can get around without a million beeps telling ’em what to do, the core Uni-S CS is the best bang for your buck. If that’s all the convincing you need, the Uni-S range comes in five colours: black, putty grey, shadow grey, flourite grey, and moon white.

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It’s time to hit the road… carefully

You didn’t know about those either, huh? If Stuff wasn’t hardwired into the Fines SA network (we received a newsletter), we’d have missed the news, too. Apparently, AI-powered traffic cameras are already in operation, catching out drivers for more offences than just speeding. It’s only a slightly scary thought.

These AI traffic cameras are geared for more than just detecting your car’s speed. They can actually take a peek inside your car to judge a few of your nastier habits. Those include failing to wear a seatbelt in a moving vehicle and texting while driving. Even if it isn’t texting, these cameras can still spot a phone in your hand.

Not only can it detect more offences, but it can also detect them continuously. Where it would normally fall to traditional law enforcement to detect and act upon these using roadblocks, AI-powered traffic cameras are always there. Always watching. Or in Fines SA’s best impression of an AI overlord: “If an offence occurs, it is recorded.”

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Petrol up, diesel way up — but vibes are at an all-time low

Unfortunately, it’ll be diesel drivers suffering the brunt of this increase, who initially faced a massive R10/l hike. South Africa’s garages have already begun limiting the sale of diesel (to about 40/50 litres per vehicle, depending on the station) as it prepares for a major fuel shortage in the country. This shortage is due to the ongoing crisis in the Middle East, with oil prices reaching exorbitant highs and depleting reserves everywhere.

Petrol drivers won’t escape unscathed, either. They were initially faced with a similarly dire increase of R6/l. Fortunately, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana has confirmed a R3 reduction in fuel price levies, significantly easing the pressure of the increases as they stand. With the reduction in mind, you can see the coming fuel price hikes below, which will fall to around R7/l for diesel prices and around R3/l for petrol prices this April. Whew.

Read More: R3 fuel levy cut confirmed to soften petrol and diesel price hikes this April

Not only will it cost more to get around with your own car, but taxi fares could face hikes, too. The South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO) has warned (via Newzroom Afrika) that fare increases are “unavoidable” in the present climate. The same could go for delivery services, which rely on delivery drivers and thus, fuel.

Readers of Stuff will likely be well prepared for the coming fuel price increases. The Central Energy Fund (CEF), in conjunction with the DMRE, tracks those economic factors that influence the price of fuel locally. Using this data, it offers South African residents a daily fuel price snapshots and insight into the official adjustments.

Those factors are the average Rand/US Dollar exchange rate — so strong at the beginning of 2026 and has now crumbled — as well as the price of oil globally. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has seen the world’s oil stocks slowly depleting, driving the price of oil as well as fuel prices in South Africa.

“The average international product prices for Petrol, Diesel and Illuminating Paraffin increased during the period under review. The Rand depreciated against the US Dollar during the period under review, on average, when compared to the previous period. The average Rand/US Dollar exchange rate for the period 27 February 2026 to 26 March 2026 was 16.6429 compared to 15.9959 during the previous period. This led to a higher contribution to the Basic Fuel Prices on petrol, diesel and illuminating paraffin by 56.181 c/l, 77.294 c/l, 83.214 c/l respectively.”

From 00:01 on the morning of Wednesday, 1 April 2026, petroleum-based fuels will see the following changes:

• Petrol 93: increase of 306 cents per litre (R3.06)
• Petrol 95: increase of 306 cents per litre (R3.06)
• Diesel 0.05%: increase of 737 cents per litre (R7.37)
• Diesel 0.005%: increase of 751 cents per litre (R7.51)
• Illuminating Paraffin (Wholesale): increase of 1,167 cents per litre (R11.67)
• LPGAS: increase of 108 cents per kilogram (R1.08)

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It ain’t much, but it’s honest work

“I will temporarily be lowering the fuel levy for this month of April by R3.00, and then I am still discussing what we can do for the next two months,” Godongwana said in an interview at the South Africa Investment Conference (via Bloomberg). The measure, which will be made official later today, was introduced to offset the hikes.

Oil prices have seen a massive surge in the last month as the crisis in the Middle East goes unresolved. Iran, one of the largest exporters of oil globally, has since closed the Strait of Hormuz. This has resulted in wildly fluctuating oil prices since. Prices touched as close as $119/barrel, way up from sub-$100 prices we saw before.

Read More: Diesel set for nearly R10 price hike at the pumps in April

Before Godongwana’s announcement, both the petrol and diesel general levies were set to see a small hike. As it stands, the petrol general fuel levy sits at R4.01, and was set to increase to R4.10 tomorrow. The diesel general levy is currently at R3.85/l, and would have risen to R3.93 before the Minister stepped in. The Road Accident Fund levy will, unfortunately, see a small addition, rising from R2.18 to R2.25 tomorrow.

Motorists will still, of course, see a massive fuel price increase on Wednesday, 1 April. The CEF’s current predictions foretell a R10+ increase for diesel drivers in April, which should be cut down to around R7/l now. Petrol drivers are a little luckier, facing a roughly R6+ increase for 93 and 95-grades. Instead, this will bring about a smaller R3+ increase. With a R3/l reduction, drivers can better plan their fuel-spending habits.

Source, Source 2

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It is aimed at folks looking for the cabin space that SUVs usually offer, while also sporting coupé-inspired proportions and design flares. That means that next to the standard C3 and Aircross, this is one of Citroën’s better-looking vehicles we’ve seen. The starting price of R355,000 also makes it Citroën’s most expensive.

A pinch of Basalt

On the inside, the cabin is supposed to reflect “Citroën’s people-focused approach to design”. That translates to “generous” leg room, a 10in Citroën Connect floating touchscreen infotainment system that supports wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and another 7in digital instrument cluster. You’ll also find the usual bits scattered around, like automatic air-conditioning with rear air vents.

Whether you’re looking at the Plus or Max derivatives, the Citroën Basalt employs the same 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine as the Aircross, which develops 81kW and 205Nm sent to the front wheels only via the 6-speed automatic gearbox. Citroën reckons this results in an average fuel consumption of 6.3l/100km.

You’ll get a few more features, depending on the model. Both get that 10in infotainment and 7in instrument cluster, rear park distance sensors, keyless entry and start, LED headlights, electric side mirrors, and safety and assistance features like electronic stability control, cruise control, tyre pressure monitoring, and six airbags.

The Max spec has all that, plus faux leather on the steering wheel, an improved sound system, an electrochromatic rearview mirror, and a reverse camera.

Previously, Citroen confirmed that the Basalt would launch locally soon — by the end of the first quarter of 2026,  to be exact. So it shouldn’t be too long now before it starts showing up in dealerships, probably by the end of this month. When it does, here’s what each will cost:

• Citroën Basalt 1.2T Plus – R354,900
• Citroën Basalt 1.2T Max – R369,900

“The Citroën Basalt introduces a distinctive attitude to the local SUV segment, combining confident design with the comfort, technology and everyday usability that define the Citroën brand,” says Mmathapelo Khumalo, Head of Citroën South Africa.

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The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE), officially responsible for the monthly fuel price adjustments, typically comes to a final decision on the last Friday of any given month. Those adjustments usually come into effect on the first Wednesday of the new month, meaning next week — 1 April 2026.

Grab your running shoes, things are about to get hairy

Trust us when we say you’ll want to make the most of the current prices at the pumps before that happens. As ever, the CEF has continued to provide daily fuel price snapshots — based on those economic factors that most heavily influence the price of fuel. Unfortunately, in this case, these have proven rather accurate in the past.

It’s the price of oil that impacts the price of fuel the most, in addition to the average Rand/US Dollar exchange rate. Oil prices have continued to surge throughout March as stocks lessen. This has led to the Rand seeing a similar dip, despite showing strong legs at the beginning of the year. These two things are the factors most responsible for the incoming price hike.

By the time these figures (below) hit the pumps on Wednesday, 1 April, it may well be the largest fuel price jump in South Africa’s history. South Africa has spent these last few years slowly chipping away at the high prices that plagued motorists throughout the COVID pandemic, all for it to be stripped away again. If the CEF’s predictions come to pass, diesel prices could shoot past the R27/l mark, surpassing their highest-ever record from 2022.

In other words, it’s going to be a rough April for commuters. Check back in with Stuff next week to find out just how rough, once the DMRE has published the official adjustments.

Here are the petrol and diesel price predictions (so far) for April 2026:

• Petrol 93: increase of 518 cents per litre (R5.18)
• Petrol 95: increase of 572 cents per litre (R5.72)
• Diesel 0.05%: increase of 967 cents per litre (R9.67)
• Diesel 0.005%: increase of 981 cents per litre (R9.81)
• Illuminating Paraffin: increase of 1,141 cents per litre (R11,41)

The post Diesel set for nearly R10 price hike at the pumps in April appeared first on Stuff South Africa.

Strap in, it’s going to be a bumpy ride

Petrol, too, hasn’t escaped unscathed. It is, however, projected to see a more gradual increase, currently hovering around R5/l. Of course, until the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) come to a final decision, predicted prices could continue to climb. Whether it’s petrol or diesel, nobody is getting off easy in April.

Of course, the opposite is also true. The CEF’s figures below are not final and subject to change. It, in conjunction with the DMRE, tracks those economic factors that influence the price of fuel locally. These snapshots offer South Africans a glimpse behind the fuel price curtain, and allow them to prepare for what’s coming. Thanks…

That means that if the factors swing in the other direction, drivers could be looking at a small reduction of the expected increases seen below. The odds of them swining so far in the other direction that drivers end up paying less for their fuel in April are… low. What with the ongoing crisis in the Middle East, oil prices are volatile.

That, as well as the average Rand/US Dollar exchange rate, are the biggest drivers in South Africa’s fuel prices. Oil prices are currently hovering around the $100/barrel mark, a stark increase over the roughly $60/barrel it was trading at near the beginning of the year. This could only continue to rise as time goes on.

The DMRE typically adjusts South Africa’s pumps on the first Wednesday of the new month. That’ll be 1 April 2026, in this case. Check back with Stuff to keep an eye on the coming fuel price hikes.

Here are the petrol and diesel price predictions (so far) for April 2026:

• Petrol 93: increase of 468 cents per litre (R4.68)
• Petrol 95: increase of 520 cents per litre (R5.20)
• Diesel 0.05%: increase of 852 cents per litre (R8.52)
• Diesel 0.005%: increase of 864 cents per litre (R8.64)
• Illuminating Paraffin: increase of 1,058 cents per litre (R10.58)w

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BM-Double U

Even with a year’s warning, we doubt you’ll be able to scrounge enough from between the couch cushions to stick one of these inside your garage. Pricing is still under wraps at the time of writing, but call it a hunch. After looking at BMW’s claims, we’re confident it’ll slip into the millions. Exactly how many, we’ll have to wait and see.

“As a representative of the new design language, the new BMW i3 is immediately recognisable as a BMW 3 Series – assured, dynamic and intelligent. The hallmark BMW sporty silhouette proportions are reflected in the new 2.5-box design,” it wrote.

Read More: All the electric cars you can buy in South Africa in 2026 for under R1 million

But you can already see all that, right? We’re more interested in the bits you can’t see. Like the i3’s two electric motors, which, when combined, provide an output of 345kW and 645Nm of torque. Each motor sits above one of the axles, giving this sedan four-wheel drive. BMW reckons it’s got more than enough juice stockpiled to deliver a range of 900km (WLTP). And with 400kW DC charging powers, ten minutes is enough to net 400km.

That’s impressive and all, but what about an interior screen to, say, monitor the situation? The i3 is expectedly brimming in that regard. An oddly-shaped 17.9in infotainment display (3,340 x 1,440) dominates the centre console, while the usual driver’s dashboard is projected onto the windscreen. Think of a Windows taskbar. It’s all very smart, but it still lacks the ability to automatically indicate. That one’s still on you, BMW drivers.

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