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 slate levy is a charge of 87.66 cents per litre on petrol and diesel from 7 October 2026, up from 83.28 c/l. It repays money owed to fuel suppliers when the regulated price was lower than the real import cost.
Slate Levy Fuel Price: direct answer
Fuel prices are set once a month, but import costs change every day. When costs run above the set price, suppliers are under-paid; when costs run below, they are over-paid. The running total of these differences is called the slate. If the slate goes far enough into the negative, a levy is added to the price to clear it.
How it works in South Africa
- A slate levy applies to all petrol and diesel grades only if the cumulative slate balance is negative by more than R500 million.
- The Self-Adjusting Slate Levy Mechanism has been in place since 7 January 2009; its ranges were last adjusted on 7 September 2022.
- The levy is recalculated every month from the latest audited balance.
- Illuminating paraffin carries no slate levy.
Key figures for October 2026
| Item | Figure |
| Slate levy from 7 October 2026 | 87.66 c/l |
| Slate levy before | 83.28 c/l |
| Increase | 4.38 c/l |
| Combined petrol and diesel slate balance, end of August 2026 | Negative R10.456 billion |
| Share of the Petrol 95 price | 2.9% |
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.
Practical example for motorists
On a 50-litre fill the slate levy comes to R43.83. This month’s increase in the levy added R2.19 to that tank; the rest of the R166.50 increase on Petrol 95 came from higher international prices.
Common mistakes and misconceptions
- The slate levy is not a tax. It does not go to the national budget.
- It is not permanent. It falls, and can drop to zero, as the slate balance recovers.
- It is separate from the monthly over- or under-recovery, which adjusts the basic fuel price.
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
How much is the slate levy now?
87.66 cents per litre on petrol and diesel from 7 October 2026.
Why did it go up?
Because the combined slate balance was R10.456 billion in the negative at the end of August 2026.
Does paraffin carry a slate levy?
No.