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 two weeks to go 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 after reports that Israel was preparing an attack on Iran, while the rand has strengthened ahead of Cyril Ramaphosa’s meeting with Donald Trump and the Budget speech finally set to take place on Wednesday afternoon.
Below, the latest projections as received by The South African website from the Central Energy Fund (CEF), effective Tuesday, 20 May.
| FUEL | PRICE CHANGE |
| Petrol 93 | decrease of 23 cents |
| Petrol 95 | decrease of 22 cents |
| Diesel 0.05% | decrease of 49 cents |
| Diesel 0.005% | decrease of 50 cents |
| Illuminating Paraffin | decrease of 53 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 23 cents is expected for petrol 93 octane motorists and a decrease of 22 cents for 95 users.
Meanwhile, diesel motorists would see something between a 49 and 50 cents per litre decrease.
Finally, illuminating paraffin is expected to drop by 53 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 $66.05 a barrel.
Exchange rate
At the time of publishing the rand/dollar exchange rate is R17.92/$.
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 June 2025.
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?
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1
Subscribe to The South African website’s newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
