October Fuel Price Hikes: How R3.18 Increase Could Push Up Living Costs and Spark Frustration
- Petrol prices are forecast to rise by around R3.18 a litre from Wednesday, 7 October, after already significant increases in September
- The Road Freight Association warned that freight operating costs could climb by 4% to 6%, with knock-on effects for food and other goods
- South Africans took to social media to weigh in on the increase, sharing frustration at the already high cost of living in the country
PAY ATTENTION: Mark Briefly News as a preferred source, and our content will appear higher in your Google feed!
Source: Getty Images
Byron Pillay, a Briefly News journalist, has spent a decade reporting on South Africa's political landscape, crime, and social issues. He worked as a newspaper journalist for 10 years before transitioning to online.
SOUTH AFRICA — South Africans face a fresh round of fuel price increases from Wednesday, 7 October 2026, with projections pointing to some of the steepest hikes seen this year, piling further pressure on household budgets already stretched by rising living costs.
The latest Central Energy Fund data indicates that 95 Unleaded petrol could rise by approximately R3.18 a litre. Diesel prices are expected to climb by between R2.80 for 500ppm and R3.15 for 50ppm.
Should those projections hold without any government intervention, 95 Unleaded could reach roughly R29.23 a litre at the coast and R30.10 in Gauteng. Diesel could exceed R34 a litre at the coast and R35 inland once retail margins are included.
PAY ATTENTION: You can now search for all your favourite news and topics on Briefly News.
The government has signalled it does not intend to offer temporary tax relief this time around. In April, the General Fuel Levy was reduced by at least R3 a litre for two months, but no comparable measure is currently planned.
Freight costs and food prices under pressure
The Road Freight Association estimates that fuel accounts for between 35% and 55% of road-freight companies' operating costs. Based on the September diesel increase, it projected that freight operating costs could rise by 4% to 6%.
Given that more than 80% of land-based freight moves by road, including food between farms, processors and retailers, the wider implications for consumer prices are significant.
PSG senior economist Johann Els noted, however, that higher fuel costs had not yet translated directly into food price increases.
He did note that there was a substitution effect, where consumers spending more on fuel cut back on other purchases, which could in turn create deflationary pressure in certain sectors as businesses absorb costs to protect sales volumes.
Taxi fares could increase
The South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) said it was too early to confirm whether taxi fares would increase in October. Spokesperson Mmatshikhidi Rebecca Phala said associations had implemented only one fare increase since fuel prices began rising in March, while operators were also contending with higher maintenance and administrative costs.
Any fare adjustments would be determined by individual associations in consultation with commuter organisations, with Santaco's Taxi Fare Index generally discouraging increases exceeding 10%.
Santaco has also called on government to introduce an equitable public transport subsidy and said it remained open to temporary relief measures.
How did South Africans react?
South Africans took to social media to express frustration at the widening gap between incomes and costs.
Robert Malekele wrote:
"Even in Lesotho, the petrol is cheaper than us thank you ANC."
Tony Balgobind said:
"Let's ask the useless ANC what happened to our oil refineries. Whilst we understand the crisis in the Middle East is a problem, buying refined fuel is much more expensive than refining it here in SA."
Gary Haswell commented:
"The ANC has failed South Africa after 30 years in power. Under their government, prices for food, electricity, fuel and rent keep rising every month, and ordinary South African families can no longer afford basic living costs."
Nico Perumal added:
"The economy is down; now the cost of living is getting worse, but salaries stay the same. We can't live anymore."
Cuban Moodley claimed:
"We are being driven into poverty."
COSATU calls for fuel levy relief
Briefly News reported that COSATU renewed calls for the government to temporarily suspend a portion of the fuel levy.
COSATU made the call following major price increases on 2 September 2026, saying the latest fuel price increases were unsustainable.
Preliminary data from the Central Energy Fund suggests further fuel price pressure could arrive in October 2026.
PAY ATTENTION: Follow Briefly News on Twitter and never miss the hottest topics! Find us at @brieflyza!
Source: Briefly News
