While the latest available data still shows that good news lies ahead forSouth Africa’s motorists in early June, the picture is worsening as each day passes.
With just over two weeks until the new prices come into effect, there is, sadly, every chance that fuel costs may actually increase at the pumps next month.
Vehicle owners in Mzansi saw a sizeable decrease in the cost of both petrol and diesel earlier this month.
This was mainly due to a lower brent crude oil price and a stronger rand.
However, in recent days, the oil price has risen while the rand-dollar exchange rate has remained largely stable.
Below, the latest projections as received by The South African website from the Central Energy Fund (CEF), effective Friday, 16 May.
FUEL
PRICE CHANGE
Petrol 93
decrease of 26 cents
Petrol 95
decrease of 25 cents
Diesel 0.05%
decrease of 53 cents
Diesel 0.005%
decrease of 53 cents
Illuminating Paraffin
decrease of 56 cents
If the market conditions were to remain consistent for the remainder of the month – an unlikely scenario with the rand/dollar exchange rate fluctuating and the oil price ever changing – a decrease of 26 cents is expected for petrol 93 octane motorists and a decrease of 25 cents for 95 users.
Meanwhile, diesel motorists would see something around a 53 cents per litre decrease.
Finally, illuminating paraffin is expected to drop by 56 cents in price.
FUEL PRICE IN SOUTH AFRICA IMPACTED BY TWO MAIN FACTORS:
1. The international price of petroleum products, driven mainly by oil prices
2. The rand/dollar exchange rate used in the purchase of these products
Oil price
At the time of publishing the brent crude oil price is $65.10 a barrel.
Exchange rate
At the time of publishing the rand/dollar exchange rate is R18.00/$.
The final overall price changes for both petrol and diesel will be confirmed early next month with the new prices taking effect at midnight on Tuesday, 3 June2025.
Go easy on the accelerator until then, Mzansi.
The current May 2025 petrol and diesel prices (Inland and Coastal):
INLAND
May
Petrol 93
R21.29
Petrol 95
R21.40
Diesel 0.05%
R18.90
Diesel 0.005%
R18.94
Illuminating Paraffin
R13.05
COASTAL
May
Petrol 93
R20.50
Petrol 95
R20.61
Diesel 0.05%
R18.11
Diesel 0.005%
R18.18
Illuminating Paraffin
R12.05
How much do you spend on fuel per month on averagee?
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