South Africans Enjoy R89 Petrol Price Relief
Petrol price relief as South African motorists now pay up to R89 less to fill their tanks compared to earlier this year, offering a small but welcome reprieve amid ongoing economic pressures.
In February 2025, petrol 95 peaked at R22.41 per litre, following a 12c increase in January and a sharper 82c hike in February. Since then, petrol prices have gradually eased, with all but one month seeing a decrease.
From February Peak to August Relief
Between March and August, motorists saw five price drops and one increase:
- March – 7c decrease per litre
- April – 72c decrease per litre
- May – 22c decrease per litre
- June – 5c decrease per litre
- July – 52c increase per litre
- August – 28c decrease per litre
Overall, these adjustments have reduced the pump price by 82c per litre since February. The July increase, however, cut into potential savings. This spike was largely linked to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, where market fears of escalating conflict between Israel, Iran, and the United States drove up oil prices.
Filling Up: Then vs Now
Here’s how August petrol prices compare to February’s peak:
| Tank Size | February 2025 (R22.41/L) | August 2025 (R21.59/L) | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 litres | R672.30 | R647.70 | –R24.60 |
| 40 litres | R896.40 | R863.60 | –R32.80 |
| 50 litres | R1,120.50 | R1,079.50 | –R41.00 |
| 60 litres | R1,344.60 | R1,295.40 | –R49.20 |
| 70 litres | R1,568.70 | R1,511.30 | –R57.40 |
| 80 litres | R1,816.80 | R1,727.20 | –R89.60 |
Smaller car owners are saving around R25 per refill, while large SUV and bakkie drivers are enjoying almost R90 in relief. While the savings may be modest, any drop in fuel prices has a ripple effect, lowering transport costs and easing inflationary pressures on goods and services.
The Caveats
Despite these reductions, petrol prices have remained largely stagnant for much of 2025, with only small under- and over-recoveries. Adding to the challenge, the government increased the General Fuel Levy (GFL) in June for the first time in three years.
The GFL frozen during the pandemic to ease household expenses now stands at R4.01 per litre for petrol and R3.85 for diesel, contributing significantly to pump prices. The increase was introduced partly to offset revenue lost from scrapping a proposed VAT hike.
Calls to review or deregulate the way fuel prices are calculated have gained traction, but significant changes appear unlikely. Eliminating the GFL entirely would remove roughly R90 billion from the state’s annual revenue, meaning alternative taxes would almost certainly follow.
For now, South Africans can take some comfort in knowing that August’s prices are at least lighter on the wallet than earlier this year even if the relief could have been far greater.
Related article: Expected Petrol Price Decrease for August Revealed
