The November 2026 fuel price decrease took effect on Wednesday, 4 November 2026, trimming petrol 95 by R0.01 to R30.24 a litre inland and cutting diesel 0.05% by R1.10 a litre.
According to the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, the decrease follows a temporary cut to the general fuel levy of R1.50 a litre on petrol and R3 a litre on diesel. The Central Energy Fund (CEF) released the statement on Friday, 30 October 2026.
PLEASE NOTE: The price adjustments below are taken from the monthly media statement of the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, except coastal petrol 93, which comes from published reports. Tank costs are calculated. Readers should double-check prices. Swisher Post and its partners shall not be held liable for any consequence arising from this content.
What does the November 2026 fuel price decrease mean per litre?
From Wednesday, 4 November 2026, inland petrol 95 falls from R30.25, set in the October 2026 adjustment, to R30.24 a litre, the second-highest inland price in the department’s records since April 2024. Petrol 93 also falls by R0.01.
| Area | Fuel type | Price per litre | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inland | Petrol 95 | R30.24 | -R0.01 |
| Inland | Petrol 93 | R29.87 | -R0.01 |
| Inland | Diesel 0.05% | R30.86 | -R1.10 |
| Coastal | Petrol 95 | R29.37 | -R0.01 |
| Coastal | Petrol 93 | R29.08 | -R0.01 |
| Coastal | Diesel 0.05% | R29.98 | -R1.10 |
Diesel prices are wholesale prices, and the retail diesel price is not regulated, so pump prices may differ. Diesel 0.005% falls by R1.20 a litre to R31.60 inland, a bigger drop than petrol because the diesel levy cut is twice as large.
Illuminating paraffin carries no fuel levy, so it receives no relief. Its wholesale price rises by R2.75 a litre and its single maximum national retail price by R3.66 to R35.48, while the maximum retail price of LPG rises by R1.83 a kilogram to R39.64 inland and R36.39 at the coast.
How much does a full tank cost after the November 2026 fuel price decrease?
| Vehicle type | Tank size (litres) | Inland cost | Coastal cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compact hatchbacks | 35 to 45 | R1 058.40 to R1 360.80 | R1 027.95 to R1 321.65 |
| Sedans | 50 to 65 | R1 512.00 to R1 965.60 | R1 468.50 to R1 909.05 |
| SUVs | 55 to 80 | R1 663.20 to R2 419.20 | R1 615.35 to R2 349.60 |
| Bakkies and minibuses | 65 to 80 | R1 965.60 to R2 419.20 | R1 909.05 to R2 349.60 |
Based on petrol 95 at R30.24 inland and R29.37 at the coast, a 60-litre fill costs R1 814.40 inland, down from R1 815.00, and R1 762.20 at the coast, down from R1 762.80. A petrol fill is R0.60 cheaper in both areas.
Why did the fuel price fall in November 2026?
Petrol 95 under-recovered by 100.585 c/l between Friday, 2 October 2026 and Thursday, 29 October 2026, meaning pump prices had not covered the actual cost. That and a 48.18 c/l slate levy increase were offset by R1.50 of levy relief on petrol and R3 on diesel.
The rand averaged R16.5529 to the dollar against R16.2123 in the previous period, adding 36.931 c/l to the basic fuel price of petrol and 47.603 c/l to diesel 0.05%. The slate levy rose from 87.66 c/l to 135.84 c/l.
The general fuel levy fell to 279.0 c/l for petrol and 116.0 c/l for diesel. Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana announced the relief in his Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement on Wednesday, 21 October 2026, citing pressure on households and businesses.
“These measures will provide R10 billion in support, at a fiscal cost of R10 billion in foregone revenue,” Godongwana said.
Bobby Ramagwede, chief executive of the Automobile Association of South Africa (AA), responded to the announcement on the same day. The AA said the temporary measure was not enough for motorists or the wider consumer base.
“We’ve highlighted that this can be funded through better fiscal management,” Ramagwede said.
The November prices apply until Tuesday, 1 December 2026. The levy cut then falls to R1.50 a litre for diesel and R1 a litre for petrol, and the relief ends on Tuesday, 5 January 2027.
Sources
- CEF media statement on behalf of the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, 30 October 2026
- Swisher Post, October 2026 fuel price increase: How much a litre costs
- Swisher Post, Fuel levy cut: R3 a litre off diesel from 4 November
- BusinessTech, Petrol price relief announced for South Africa
- EWN, New fuel levy relief kicks in from November, but AA says temporary measure not enough
- BusinessDay, Petrol price barely changes in November, diesel gets bigger relief
- SA Trucker, November Fuel Prices: Diesel Drops By R1.20 Per Litre
