South Africa is facing another petrol price increase in June 2026. Two forces are pushing prices up at the same time: government fuel levy relief is being halved, and global crude oil prices remain under severe pressure from conflict in the Middle East.
Here is what is driving the increase and what you can expect to pay from 3 June 2026.
Two Reasons Petrol Is Going Up in June 2026
There is no single villain here. Two separate pressures are hitting at once.
The first is domestic: the South African government’s temporary fuel levy relief — which has been cushioning motorists since early 2026 — is being reduced by half in June before it disappears entirely in July.
The second is global: Brent crude oil prices have remained elevated due to ongoing conflict in the Middle East, particularly tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, which affects the global oil supply.
Together, these two factors will push fuel prices significantly higher in June, and even higher in July when the relief disappears completely.
The Fuel Levy Relief Phase-Out
Since early 2026, the South African government has been subsidising fuel prices by temporarily reducing the General Fuel Levy. This relief cost the fiscus an estimated R17.2 billion in foregone tax revenue between April and June 2026.
That relief is now being wound down.
| Period | Petrol Relief | Diesel Relief |
|---|---|---|
| April–May 2026 | R3.00/litre | R3.93/litre |
| June 2026 (3–30 June) | R1.50/litre | R1.96/litre |
| July 2026 onwards | R0.00 | R0.00 |
What this means in practice: the petrol General Fuel Levy increases from R1.10/litre in May to R2.60/litre in June. For diesel, it rises from R0.00/litre to R1.97/litre.
Even if global oil prices stay exactly where they are today, this levy change alone adds roughly R1.50 to every litre of petrol and R1.97 to every litre of diesel at the pump.
Note: The relief runs only until 30 June 2026. From 1 July, full levies return — petrol at R4.10/litre and diesel at R3.93/litre. July will see a further sharp increase.
Global Factors: The Middle East and Brent Crude
South Africa imports all of its crude oil. When global prices rise, South African motorists pay for it.
The current global pressure comes from:
- US-Iran tensions — Escalating conflict has created significant uncertainty in oil markets
- Strait of Hormuz disruptions — One of the world’s most critical oil shipping lanes has been affected by the conflict
- Brent crude price spike — Crude oil prices surged past $100 USD per barrel, directly driving the R3.27/litre May increase. Prices remain elevated
The May 2026 price announcement from Minister Gwede Mantashe confirmed that the Middle East conflict was the primary driver of that month’s historic hike. The same pressure continues into June.
The rand/dollar exchange rate adds another layer. When the rand weakens against the dollar, imported crude oil costs more in rand terms — even if the dollar price of oil stays the same.
What You Can Expect to Pay in June 2026
As of 7 May 2026, the official June 2026 retail prices have not yet been announced. The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy typically confirms prices in the first few days of the month, with new prices taking effect from 3 June 2026.
What IS confirmed: the levy structure change that will cause prices to rise. Based on current May 2026 pump prices, the minimum upward pressure from the levy change alone is approximately R1.50/litre for petrol and R1.97/litre for diesel.
May 2026 Prices (current):
| Fuel Type | Inland | Coastal |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol 93 ULP | R26.52/litre | R25.73/litre |
| Petrol 95 ULP | R26.63/litre | R25.80/litre |
| Diesel 0.05% | R32.09/litre | R31.26/litre |
The June 2026 prices will be published here once the official government announcement is made.
Note: Final pump prices also depend on the June crude oil benchmark and the rand/dollar exchange rate at the time of calculation. If crude prices rise further, the increase will be larger than the levy change alone.
July 2026: The Full Impact Is Coming
June is not the worst of it. July brings the complete removal of all temporary fuel levy relief.
When full levies are reinstated on 1 July, the petrol levy jumps from R2.60/litre (June) to R4.10/litre — a further R1.50/litre increase on top of whatever June’s prices are. Diesel goes from R1.97/litre to R3.93/litre.
Motorists who have benefited from the government’s relief measures since early 2026 should prepare for a sharp adjustment. Fill up in June rather than July where possible.
When Will the Official June Prices Be Confirmed?
The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) publishes the official monthly fuel price announcement in the first week of each month.
For June 2026, the announcement is expected between 1 and 3 June. Prices take effect from Wednesday, 3 June 2026.
You can monitor the official announcement at the DMRE news room. Our Petrol Price Forecast for South Africa is updated monthly with confirmed prices and tables as soon as they are available.
For the official government statement on fuel levy relief, visit: https://www.gov.za/news/media-statements/national-treasury-extension-short-term-relief-measures-address-fuel-price
Information sourced from the South African Government (gov.za) and the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (dmre.gov.za)