From Wednesday 7 October 2026, petrol 93 costs R29.88/litre inland (up R3.12) and petrol 95 costs R30.25/litre (up R3.33) — the highest pump prices South Africa has ever had. For an e-hailing driver doing 5,000 km/month, the hike adds roughly R858–R1,100 per month in fuel alone. Petrol 95 above R30/litre is a first in South African history.
Petrol 93 inland rose from R26.76 to R29.88 per litre (+R3.12, +11.7%) and petrol 95 from R26.92 to R30.25 (+R3.33). Coastal prices are about 79c cheaper. Diesel rose up to R3.24/litre at wholesale.
| Fuel | Sept 2026 | Oct 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol 93 (inland) | R26.76/L | R29.88/L | +R3.12 |
| Petrol 95 (inland) | R26.92/L | R30.25/L | +R3.33 |
| Petrol 93 (coastal) | R25.97/L | R29.09/L | +R3.12 |
| Petrol 95 (coastal) | R26.05/L | R29.38/L | +R3.33 |
This is the steepest monthly climb of 2026. The inland petrol 93 price history this year: R23.25 (April) → R26.52 (May) → R27.95 (June) → R25.94 (July) → R25.42 (August) → R26.76 (September) → R29.88 (October). Two consecutive monthly increases, and October's is more than double September's.
The jump was driven by the global oil price shock from the Iran war, according to Reuters, with the slate levy also rising 4.38 c/l. Minister Gwede Mantashe announced the increase on Monday 5 October, effective Wednesday 7 October.
Unlike April's increase, which was mostly tax changes, this one is almost entirely international crude and refined product costs — meaning it can move again in either direction on 4 November. Drivers should budget on R30/litre staying for now, not hope for a quick reversal.
Fuel spend = monthly km ÷ your car's km per litre × new price. At 5,000 km/month, the hike adds about R858/month in a Suzuki Dzire and about R1,092/month in a Toyota Avanza compared to September.
Extra cost per month versus September 2026 prices, by vehicle and distance (petrol 93 inland, R29.88/L):
| Vehicle | Consumption | 3,000 km/mo | 4,000 km/mo | 5,000 km/mo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suzuki Dzire | 5.5 L/100km | +R515 | +R686 | +R858 |
| Toyota Starlet | 6.0 L/100km | +R562 | +R749 | +R936 |
| Toyota Avanza | 7.0 L/100km | +R655 | +R874 | +R1,092 |
| Corolla Quest | 7.6 L/100km | +R711 | +R948 | +R1,186 |
In rands per month, a 5,000 km/month Dzire driver now pays about R8,217 in fuel (was R7,359 in September). An Avanza driver pays about R10,458 (was R9,366). And a 45-litre fill-up now costs R1,345 inland — it was R1,167 a month ago.
⚠️ Fares did not go up with it. Uber and Bolt did not raise per-km fares to match a 12% fuel jump — the increase comes straight out of driver margins until platforms adjust rates (which historically takes months, if it happens at all).
At R29.88/litre, the margin between a profitable week and a loss-making week has narrowed sharply. The three biggest variables are still rental rate, fuel consumption and dead kilometres.
Take a driver renting at R2,300/week, doing 45 paid hours at R142/hour-equivalent fares (5,000 km/month) in a Dzire:
You cannot control the pump price, but you control consumption, kilometres and rental. These five levers matter more at R29.88/litre than they did in August.
Inland drivers (Johannesburg, Pretoria, Bloemfontein, Polokwane) pay about 79c/litre more than coastal drivers (Cape Town, Durban, Gqeberha) because of transport costs to the inland refineries. At 5,000 km/month that gap is roughly R217/month in a Dzire — but Cape Town and Durban drivers earn 10–25% less per week, so the coastal discount does not make up for lower fares.
| Driver location | Petrol 93 price | 5,000 km/mo fuel (5.5 L/100km) | Extra vs September |
|---|---|---|---|
| Johannesburg / Pretoria | R29.88/L | R8,217 | +R858 |
| Cape Town / Durban | R29.09/L | R8,000 | +R862 |
The practical takeaway: route choice matters more than region. A Durban driver cutting 400 dead kilometres a month saves more than the inland/coastal difference twice over.
Petrol 93 inland started 2026 at R23.25 and now sits at R29.88 — up R6.63 (28.5%) in seven months. October's R3.12 jump is the largest single move of the year.
| Month (effective date) | Petrol 93 inland | Monthly change |
|---|---|---|
| April 2026 | R23.25 | — |
| May 2026 | R26.52 | +R3.27 |
| June 2026 | R27.95 | +R1.43 |
| July 2026 | R25.94 | −R2.01 |
| August 2026 | R25.42 | −R0.52 |
| September 2026 | R26.76 | +R1.34 |
| October 2026 | R29.88 | +R3.12 |
Drivers who calculated their viability in May's prices are now running a different business entirely: at 5,000 km/month in a Dzire, fuel has risen from R6,975 in April to R8,217 in October — R1,242/month gone from the bottom line in six months, with no matching fare increase.
The Department's official November numbers land on Wednesday 4 November 2026. Early mid-month data from the Central Energy Fund suggests the over-recovery picture is volatile because of the war-driven oil market — treat any November forecast you see online, including ours, as an unaudited estimate until the Minister announces.
The sensible planning assumption for drivers: budget on R30/litre through November. If prices do fall, treat the relief as a margin bonus, not a reason to accept cheap rentals again. FleetCalc's fuel alert (below) emails you the moment official prices change, so you can re-run your numbers the same morning.
From 7 October 2026: petrol 93 is R29.88/litre inland and R29.09/litre coastal. Petrol 95 is R30.25/litre inland and R29.38/litre coastal. Diesel rose to about R32–R33/litre wholesale.
Petrol 93 went up R3.12 per litre and petrol 95 up R3.33 per litre, effective Wednesday 7 October 2026. It was announced by Minister Mantashe on Monday 5 October and is the largest monthly increase of 2026.
Global crude prices surged because of the Iran war (per Reuters), and South Africa imports refined fuel, so international costs pass straight through. The slate levy also rose by 4.38 c/l.
Prices adjust on the first Wednesday of each month — next up is Wednesday 4 November 2026. Early November forecasts circulating online are unaudited until the official announcement.
A 45-litre fill of petrol 93 inland costs R1,345 (petrol 95: R1,361). A 50-litre tank: R1,494 (93) or R1,513 (95). Coastal drivers pay roughly R35 less per 45-litre fill.
Uber and Bolt have historically adjusted rates only after sustained fuel moves, and never by the full percentage. Do not budget on a fare increase — protect your margin through rental negotiation, surge hours and fuel-efficient driving instead.
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