Petrol price November 2026: fuel levy cut means cheaper petrol and diesel from Wednesday
A temporary R1.50/l petrol and R3/l diesel levy cut kicks in on 4 November. Here's how much cheaper fuel is expected to be, and why paraffin is going up.
Key points
- Fuel prices change on Wednesday, 4 November 2026, the same day as the local elections.
- A temporary fuel levy cut of R1.50/litre for petrol and R3/litre for diesel applies from 4 November to 1 December.
- Latest Central Energy Fund data points to a small petrol decrease (about 33c–49c/l) and a bigger diesel cut (about R1.58–R1.68/l) once the levy relief is included.
- These are forecasts. We will update this article as soon as the official prices are published.
Motorists are set for some welcome relief at the pumps this week. Fuel prices are due to be adjusted on Wednesday, 4 November 2026. For the first time in months, the change is expected to be a decrease for both petrol and diesel. The reason is not cheaper oil but a temporary tax break from government.
Why are fuel prices expected to drop?
Without government help, November would have brought another increase. Central Energy Fund (CEF) data at the end of October pointed to under-recoveries of roughly:
- Petrol 93: +117c/l
- Petrol 95: +101c/l
- Diesel (0.05%): +142c/l
- Illuminating paraffin: +274c/l
In his Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement on 21 October, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana announced a temporary cut to the General Fuel Levy worth about R10 billion. That cut more than cancels out the expected increase for petrol and diesel.
How much is the fuel levy relief?
| Period | Petrol | Diesel |
|---|---|---|
| 4 November – 1 December 2026 | R1.50/l off | R3.00/l off |
| 2 December 2026 – 5 January 2027 | R1.00/l off | R1.50/l off |
The relief is temporary. From January 2027, unless government extends it, the full levy returns, and that could mean a sharp jump in prices in the new year.
Expected petrol and diesel price changes for November 2026
| Fuel | Expected change (with levy relief) |
|---|---|
| Petrol 93 | about 33c/l cheaper |
| Petrol 95 | about 49c/l cheaper |
| Diesel 0.05% | about R1.58/l cheaper |
| Diesel 0.005% | about R1.68/l cheaper |
Forecast based on CEF data published on 1 November 2026. The Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources (DMPR) sets the official prices.
What does petrol cost right now?
October 2026 prices remain in force until midnight on Tuesday, 3 November. For example, petrol 95 costs about R30.25/litre inland (Gauteng) and R29.38/litre at the coast. If the forecast holds, filling a 50-litre tank with 95 inland will be about R25 cheaper in November.
Paraffin is still going up
The levy cut does not apply to illuminating paraffin, which many households use for cooking and heating. Paraffin is on track for an increase of around R2.74/l, which will hurt low-income families the most.
What this means for your budget
The diesel cut matters most for transport and food costs, because trucks, taxis and farmers run on diesel. But the Reserve Bank raised interest rates in September because of the fuel price shock, and its next decision is on 19 November. Read: Prime interest rate in South Africa today: what you pay now.
Jonathan Lokota
Jonathan Lokota is the founder and editor of Classicnews7 and of Ready4BusinessOnline, a Johannesburg digital marketing and web design agency. He covers South African and world news, with a focus on money, politics and the stories that affect your pocket.
