Bolt to implement ‘temporary’ fare increases – Here’s what other e-hailing platforms are doing

1 April 2026 brings pain for most South Africans, as petrol prices are set to increase by R3.06 a litre and diesel by between R7.37 and R7.51 a litre. Individuals without cars are not safe from these increases, as sooner or later, businesses are set to increase prices on products to make up for the impact of the surge. Commuters are also set to pay extra.

The longer the Middle East conflict lasts, the higher the price of Brent crude oil will be. At midday on Tuesday, Brent crude was trading at $107.79 a barrel, one of the factors driving fuel price increases. Despite atemporary relief of R3 cut in the fuel levy for April, people are still set to pay aboveR23 per litre for petrol and above R25 for diesel.

It is safe to assume that the same goes for commuters who use taxis and e-hailing services such as Uber, Bolt, and Maxim. The South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) has already confirmedthere will be fare increases. “Bolt South Africa is closely monitoring the anticipated fuel price increase on 1 April, driven by ongoing geopolitical developments in the Middle East, and the resulting impact on transport costs,” Simo Kalajdzic, senior operations manager at Bolt South Africa, toldThe Citizen.

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Kalajdzic said the e-hailing service will implement temporary fare increases in response to fuel prices. “As fuel remains a key component of driver operating expenses, Bolt adjusts pricing in response to material cost changes,” he said. “In light of the expected increase, the platform will implement temporary fare adjustments where necessary to help sustain driver earnings and ensure continued service reliability.” He emphasised that the platform remains focused on balancing driver earnings with rider affordability.

Its pricing model is data-driven and responsive to fluctuations in input costs such as fuel. Kalajdzic added that while gross fares may increase, it will continue to apply targeted discounts and platform-funded subsidies to keep the effective price for riders competitive and predictable. “At the same time, Bolt continues to support drivers through improved fare structures and ongoing incentive programmes, including bonus campaigns that enhance overall earnings per trip,” he said.

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