By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Department of Petroleum and Mineral Resources has published the official fuel price adjustments that will take effect on Wednesday, 5 August 2026.
From Wednesday, the price of petrol will drop below R26 per litre in Gauteng for the first time in five months, and will cost R25.58 per litre.
Diesel users, however, will face a sharp increase diesel will rise by between R1.38 per litre and R1.23 per litre. This is less than the R1.91 increase reported by the Central Energy Fund (CEF), showing how last-minute the improved oil price was.
Illuminating paraffin will increase by more than R2 per litre at the retail level (R1.52 increase at the wholesale level). In contrast, the maximum retail price for LPGas will decrease by R4.41 per kg countrywide and R5.03 per kg in the Western Cape.
The table below indicates how the official fuel price adjustments for August will reflect at the pump:
| Fuel type | Inland price | Coastal price |
| Petrol 93 | R25.42 | R24.63 |
| Petrol 95 | R25.58 | R24.71 |
| Diesel 0.05% (Wholesale) | R26.17 | R25.30 |
| Diesel 0.005% (Wholesale) | R26.70 | R25.64 |
The department spokesperson Robert Maake says the adjustments were driven by higher international diesel prices, a weaker rand against the US dollar, and renewed geopolitical tensions that disrupted global oil markets.
Maake says the reduction in the slate levy helped cushion petrol prices, limiting what could have been a much larger increase.
The Slate Levy has decreased by 52.56c a litre, from R1.14 a litre.
The uncertainty surrounding fuel price adjustments is primarily due to the war in Iran, which flared up again.
July saw a wild swing in global oil prices after the United States reignited attacks on Iran halfway through the month, causing the Strait of Hormuz to shut once again.
This came after long-term ceasefire talks between the warring nations broke down.
Before the attacks, oil was being shipped through the Strait, easing global supply issues. Prices pushed towards pre-war levels, around $70 a barrel.
However, after the attacks flared up, shipping stopped for a time, sending oil prices surging back to $100 a barrel, reversing the positive trend. Prices reversed as some shipping continued through the strait, but the current $83/barrel levels remain elevated compared to last month.