The petrol levy is now R4.01 per litre, its first increase since 2021/22, when it rose from R3.70 to R3.85. The fuel levy had remained unchanged for three years after it was last raised from R3.70 to R3.85 in the 2021/22 financial year. According to the May 2025 Treasury Budget Overview, the freeze was intended “to provide consumers with relief from high fuel price inflation.”

The latest hike – 16c for petrol and 15c for diesel – may seem minor to some, but it hits poorer communities hardest.

When fuel prices rise, so do transport costs. According to the Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice & Dignity Group, a person earning minimum wage and taking two taxis to and from work can spend more than a third of their monthly income on transport.

Higher fuel costs also push up the price of goods and services across the economy, meaning the impact goes far beyond the pump.

The only silver lining? Despite the levy and carbon tax increases, June’s petrol price decreased – thanks to a lower basic fuel price.