February Petrol Price Hike

Loading player...
Eleanor Mavimbela – AA SPokesperson talks about In the middle of January, South Africans had something to cheer about, despite dealing with load shedding and an interest rate hike, as mid-month data pointed to a decrease in fuel prices.

Things changed quickly towards the end of the month as the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy sent shockwaves across the country.

The increase, which kicked in today, February 1, is a complete reversal of conditions at the start of the year and even the middle of the month, when a petrol and diesel price cut was still on the cards.

Motorists will now have to fork out an additional 28 cents per litre for both 95 and 93 octane petrol, while diesel will be hiked by between less than a cent and around 9c a litre.

The latest price hikes will push the price of petrol in Gauteng to R21.68 a litre, from R20.14 a year ago.

The main driver behind the higher local prices is the rising cost of international petroleum product prices, pushed higher by a stronger global oil price.

The latest fuel price increase, which comes in the wake of a series of steep rate hikes announced by Reserve Bank Governor Lesetja Kganyago and the unsettling news of a massive 18.65% increase in electricity tariffs that will kick in in April, extinguishes the last flame of hope of a better year for South Africans.

According to the AA, the increase will put an even bigger burden on consumers who are already under strain owing to the rising cost of living in South Africa.
1 Feb 2023 1PM English South Africa Business News · Investing

Other recent episodes

Global fashion, local impact and lessons from Valentino’s business legacy

The fashion world is marking the passing of Italian designer Valentino Garavani, the founder of the Valentino fashion house and one of the architects of modern luxury. Over decades, his work became closely associated with global fashion capitals and with retailers and luxury groups that helped take haute couture into…
20 Jan 3PM 22 min

Unpacking 2026 global soft power index

South Africa has dropped two places in the 2026 Global Soft Power Index, now coming in at 43rd overall. Nzinga Qunta and Jeremy Sampson, chairman, Brand Finance Africa, take a closer look at what this ranking means for South Africa, how we stack up against regional peers, and what needs…
20 Jan 3PM 17 min

IMF forecasts resilient 2026 growth driven by AI amid easing

The International Monetary Fund again edged its 2026 global growth forecast higher on Monday as businesses and economies adapt to U.S. tariffs that have eased in recent months and a continued AI investment boom that has fueled asset wealth and expectations of productivity gains. Andre Cilliers, Currency Strategist at Treasury…
20 Jan 3PM 9 min