Energy

Here is the official petrol price for May

Staff Writer

 ·4 May 2026

The Department of Petroleum and Mineral Resources has published the official fuel price adjustments that will take effect on Wednesday, 6 May 2026.

April saw a continuation of the United States’ war in Iran, which drove massive fluctuations in the global oil price.

Oil prices dropped to around $95 a barrel after hopes were sparked that the US and Iran would negotiate a ceasefire and end to the conflict.

However, this reversed, pushing prices back above $100 a barrel after the talks broke down and the United States imposed a blockade in the Strait of Hormuz.

The rand/dollar exchange rate showed a degree of resilience over the period, with the rand mostly range-bound around R16.50 to the dollar.

However, weakness crept in as the US Fed held interest rates, signalling higher inflation on a longer-than-hoped-for war.

Because of prevailing market conditions, as well as adjustments to the slate levy, motorists are set to suffer another month of massive pump price increases.

Petrol prices will be hiked by R3.27 per litre, while diesel prices will see a higher climb of R5.27 per litre.

Some relief for motorists has come in the form of the extension of the government’s fuel tax reduction.

The fuel levy for petrol remains reduced by R3.00 per litre, while the levy for diesel has been reduced to zero, taking an additional 93 cents off the per litre price.

However, this relief was offset by a significant adjustment to the slate levy, which added R1.23 to fuel prices.

The table below outlines the changes:

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 March 2026 to 29 April 2026 was 16.6467 compared to 16.6429 during the previous period.

This led to a higher contribution to the Basic Fuel Prices on petrol, diesel and illuminating paraffin by 0.360 c/l, 0.540 c/l, 0.553 c/l respectively.

The combined cumulative petrol and diesel Slate balances at the end of March 2026 amounted to a negative balance of R14.173 billion.

In line with the provisions of the Self-Adjusting Slate Levy Mechanism, a Slate Levy of 122.70 c/l will be implemented into the price structures of petrol and diesel.

The prices take effect from Wednesday, 6 May 2026.

This is how the price changes will reflect at the pumps (Diesel prices reflect wholesale, pump prices will differ):

Update: The article has been updated with the correct diesel price adjustments following an update from the CEF.