South African motorists will receive temporary fuel-levy relief from 4 November, with the general levy reduced by R1.50 a litre for petrol and R3 a litre for diesel.

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana announced the measure during the 2026 Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement in Parliament.

How the relief will work

From 4 November to 1 December 2026, the general fuel levy will be reduced by R1.50 a litre for petrol and R3 a litre for diesel.

Lower relief will then continue until 5 January 2027. During that second period, the petrol levy will be reduced by R1 a litre and the diesel levy by R1.50 a litre.

The measure is expected to provide R10 billion in support to households and businesses. It will carry an equivalent fiscal cost through revenue that government will not collect.

How it will be funded

Government says the cost will be fully accommodated. A R10 billion transfer previously made to the Central Energy Fund will be returned to the National Revenue Fund and used to finance the relief.

Godongwana said the temporary intervention is intended to ease cost-of-living pressures without compromising budget sustainability.

Why motorists are under pressure

Fuel prices have climbed sharply amid higher Brent crude oil prices linked to conflict in the Middle East. At the time of the announcement, 95 petrol cost about R30.25 a litre inland and R29.38 at the coast.

The levy reduction is not the same as a guaranteed pump-price cut of exactly the same size. Retail prices can also be affected by the basic fuel price, the rand-dollar exchange rate and other regulated components.

The bottom line

The relief offers immediate but temporary support. Petrol users receive R1.50 a litre in the first period, while diesel users receive R3 a litre. Both reductions become smaller in December and expire in early January.

Source: SAnews, reporting on the 2026 Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement.

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