By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources (DMPR) has revised the diesel price for May 2026 after admitting to an error that overstated the price increase set to take effect on Wednesday, 06 May 2026.
The wholesale price of diesel will increase by R5.27 per litre, a notable improvement from the R6.19 per litre increase reported on Monday.
The Central Energy Fund (CEF) has reissued the fuel price adjustments for May 2026, correcting an apparent error in its diesel calculations.
It described the error as “highly regrettable” and apologised for the confusion caused to motorists, businesses, and the public just hours before the new prices take effect.
The changes align with the 93 cents per litre fuel levy relief for diesel announced by the department and the National Treasury.
Because no additional levy relief was provided for petrol, the price adjustment for that fuel type is unchanged.
That being said, the government has elected to continue its fuel tax reduction this May to ease the financial burden on households.
The relief measure was implemented in April, following the start of the Iran war, and was only supposed to last for one month, but it since been extended to May.
The new plan is for the full fuel tax to be re-added to the official price in parts over the next two months.
This means that R1.50 will be added back to the price of petrol in June, while R1.97 will be added back to the diesel price.
The department also confirmed that a broader review of the fuel pricing formula is underway, which could influence how future price adjustments are calculated.
For now, South Africans will have to brace for higher fuel costs at the pumps from Wednesday, with government maintaining that the revised figures provide a more accurate reflection of global and domestic pricing pressures.