Here’s how much more each kilometre will cost you after October's huge fuel price increase
Fuel prices are soaring, with October’s hikes set to push driving costs sharply higher. Here’s how much more each kilometre could cost motorists compared with early 2026 and September.
South African motorists will face significantly higher fuel costs starting October 7 following the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources' announcement of price hikes exceeding R3 per litre. Prices for 95 Unleaded petrol will rise by R3.33, while 93 Unleaded will increase by R3.12, 500ppm diesel will see a R2.84 hike, and 50ppm diesel will go up by R3.24.
These hikes follow September's significant increases, with petrol rising by R1.34 and diesel by up to R3.15, resulting in some motorists paying more than R30 per litre for petrol for the first time ever.
The price increases have severe implications for the average budget, with IOL's calculations showing that even an entry-level car's fuel costs will increase by over R1,000 per month, compared to March. For instance, a small car with an average consumption of 5.5 litres per 100km would have paid R1.07 per kilometre in March, but by October, the cost will reach R1.62 per kilometre.
Similarly, a compact SUV with an 8.0 l/100km consumption rate would have paid R1.55 in March, rising to R2.35 in October. Diesel-powered vehicles, such as a bakkie with a 9.0 l/100km consumption rate, would have paid R1.83 per kilometre in March, increasing to R3.09 in October, a rise of 28 cents alone.
The average South African motorist drives between 1,500km to 1,800km per month. If driving a small car like a Suzuki Swift 1,500km in a month, fuel costs will have risen from R1,606 in March to R2,424 in October. For an SUV like the Chery Tiggo with an 8.0 l/100km consumption rate, fuel costs will increase from R2,336 in March to R3,526 in October.
In a Toyota Hilux with a 9.0 l/100km consumption rate, fuel costs will rise from R2,746 in March to R4,637 in October, a significant increase of almost R2,000 in just seven months.
The future of these catastrophic fuel costs remains uncertain, primarily depending on the situation in the Middle East. Ongoing tensions and potential disruptions to global crude supplies and shipping, particularly through the Strait of Hormuz, may keep oil prices elevated, maintaining these increased fuel costs for the foreseeable future.
Written by urgent.news from IOL's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
