Zuko Komisa
- South African motorists will face significant fuel price hikes across the board from December 3, with both grades of petrol increasing by 29c/l.
- The wholesale price of diesel will see much higher increases, rising by up to 82c/l, making holiday travel and logistics more expensive.
- The Department attributed the hikes primarily to higher international fuel prices, despite the rand slightly appreciating against the dollar.
South African motorists are set to pay significantly more for their journeys this festive season after the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources announced substantial, across-the-board increases to petrol and diesel prices for December.
Following rare decreases last month, consumers are now facing hikes that will raise the cost of holiday travel and logistics across the country.
The adjustments, which come into effect at midnight on Tuesday, 3rd December, mean both grades of petrol will rise by 29 pence per litre (c/l) at the pump.
Diesel users will be hit harder, with the wholesale price of 0.05% sulphur diesel increasing by 65c/l and 0.005% sulphur diesel by a hefty 82c/l. The cost of illuminating paraffin is also set to climb by 74c/l.
| Area | 93 Unleaded Petrol | 95 Unleaded Petrol | 0.05% Diesel | 0.005% Diesel |
| Inland | R21.26 | R21.41 | R19.79 | R20.02 |
| Coast | R20.47 | R20.58 | R18.96 | R19.26 |
The price hikes were attributed primarily to higher international oil prices during the review period. While the rand appreciated slightly against the US dollar, which helped to temper the scale of the increases, the impact of global oil costs proved dominant.
The announced price adjustments also incorporate annual margin adjustments: 3.6c/l for petrol and 5.5c/l for diesel and illuminating paraffin.
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