Petrol price shock hits at midnight: Here’s what you’ll pay

South African motorists have been dealt a massive blow and will have to fork out more for petrol and diesel at the pumps from Wednesday. The United States and Israel’s war in Iran has ignited global panic, with the conflict spiking fuel prices to record highs. Earlier this month,the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) insisted the country’s fuel supply remains stable in the immediate term, despite extreme volatility in global energy markets triggered by escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

Petrol and diesel prices are expected to rise just after midnight, from 00:01 on Wednesday, 1 April 2026. The DMRE announced that the prices of 93-octane and 95-octane petrol will increase by R3.06 per litre. The price of diesel with 0.05% (500ppm) sulphur increases by R7.37 per litre, and 0.005% (50ppm) sulphur goes up by R7.51 per litre.

Meanwhile, illuminating paraffin will cost R11.67 more per litre, while the price of LP gas increases by 57 cents per kg countrywide, except in the Western Cape, where it’ll increase by R1.08 per kg. The new fuel prices follow a R3 reduction in the fuel levy for one month. When the fuel price adjustment kicks in, a litre of 93 unleaded petrol will cost R23.25 per litre, while 95 unleaded will be R23.36 The wholesale price of 0.05% (500ppm) diesel will increase to R 25.90 per litre, and 0.005% (50ppm) will cost R26.11 DMREspokesperson Lerato Ntsoko stated that several factors, including international petroleum product prices and the rand-US dollar (USD) exchange rate, contributed to the increase in petrol and diesel prices.