Official figures — October 2026. These are the confirmed prices published by the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources (DMPR), effective Wednesday, 7 October 2026. Petrol 93 rose 312 c/l, petrol 95 rose 333 c/l, diesel 500ppm rose 284 c/l, diesel 50ppm rose 324 c/l and illuminating paraffin rose 358 c/l. The previous official prices took effect on 2 September 2026.
The fuel price in South Africa is built up from one international component and a set of local ones: basic fuel price + taxes and levies + margins + transport = pump price. For Petrol 95 in Gauteng the total from 7 October 2026 is R30.25 per litre.
Fuel Price Formula South Africa: direct answer
The basic fuel price is what it would cost to import refined fuel to a South African harbour. Government then adds fixed levies, regulated margins for wholesalers and retailers, and the cost of moving fuel to each pricing zone. Only the basic fuel price changes much from month to month.
The formula with October 2026 figures
| Component (cents per litre) | Petrol 95 | Diesel 500ppm |
| Basic fuel price | 1743.51 | 2213.63 |
| General fuel levy | 429 | 416 |
| Road Accident Fund levy | 225 | 225 |
| Retail margin | 320 | 0 |
| Wholesale margin | 66.5 | 99.17 |
| Zone differential (transport to Gauteng) | 91.1 | 91.1 |
| Slate levy | 87.66 | 87.66 |
| Secondary storage | 39 | 39 |
| Secondary distribution | 19.1 | 19.1 |
| Customs and excise duty | 4 | 4 |
| IP tracer levy | 0 | 0.5 |
| Petroleum products levy | 0.33 | 0.33 |
| Pump rounding | -0.2 | 0 |
| Price (c/l) | 3,025.00 | 3,195.49 |
Source: composition of the price in Gauteng for 7 October to 3 November 2026, from the media statement released by the Central Energy Fund on behalf of the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources on 2 October 2026.
How it works in South Africa
- Basic fuel price: 57.6% of the Petrol 95 price. It is based on refined product prices in the Mediterranean and Singapore for petrol, and the Mediterranean and Arabian Gulf for diesel, converted to rand each day.
- Taxes and levies: the general fuel levy (429 c/l on petrol, 416 c/l on diesel), the Road Accident Fund levy (225 c/l), the slate levy (87.66 c/l) and small duties.
- Margins: a wholesale margin, a retail margin on petrol (320 c/l), and allowances for secondary storage and distribution.
- Transport: the zone differential, 91.1 c/l for Gauteng.
Practical example for motorists
On a 50-litre tank of Petrol 95 at R30.25 per litre (R1,512.50), about R871.76 pays for the basic fuel price, R214.50 for the general fuel levy, R112.50 for the Road Accident Fund and R160.00 for the retailer’s margin.
Common mistakes and misconceptions
- The crude oil price is not in the formula directly. The formula uses the international price of refined petrol and diesel.
- Diesel has no regulated retail margin, so the formula gives a wholesale price, not a pump price.
- Levies are fixed amounts in cents, not percentages, so they do not rise when the oil price rises.
Related prices, forecasts and tools
- Petrol price today
- Fuel price breakdown
- Basic fuel price
- Why fuel prices change every month
- Petrol price prediction
- Fuel cost calculator
Frequently asked questions
What is the biggest part of the fuel price?
The basic fuel price, at 57.6% of the Petrol 95 price in October 2026.
How much of the price is tax?
The general fuel levy and Road Accident Fund levy together are 654 c/l on petrol, about 22% of the Petrol 95 price.
When does the price change?
On the first Wednesday of every month. The current prices took effect on 7 October 2026 and the next adjustment is due on Wednesday, 4 November 2026.