How South Africa’s fuel price is set each month
The first Wednesday, the basic fuel price, levies, and the daily slate that lets us estimate the next change.
Petrol prices in South Africa are regulated. The Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources (DMPR) announces new prices shortly before the first Wednesday of each month, and they take effect from that Wednesday.
The biggest moving part is the basic fuel price, which tracks international product prices and the rand-dollar exchange rate. On top of that sit taxes and levies (such as the General Fuel Levy and the Road Accident Fund levy), wholesale and retail margins, and transport costs. The transport component is why prices differ between the coast and inland: Gauteng pays more than Cape Town for the same litre.
Through the month the Central Energy Fund publishes a daily slate comparing the current price with what the fuel actually costs. When the pump price is below cost (an under-recovery), the next change tends to be an increase, and the reverse for an over-recovery. The average over the month is what the next adjustment is largely based on.
Tap & Tank reads that slate every weekday and shows a next-month estimate, clearly labelled as an estimate. Any levy change that government announces is added by our team. We alert you the moment the official statement is published.