South Africans have found themselves caught in a relentless economic squeeze, facing the unprecedented rise of fuel prices that ripples through every aspect of daily life.
As the pumps click higher month after month, the domino effect on food, transport and basic utilities has pushed household budgets to their absolute breaking point.
This has forced millions to make impossible choices between basic survival and financial ruin in an increasingly unforgiving economy.
Fuel prices have shattered all historical records, with 95-grade unleaded petrol breaching the R30 per litre mark for the first time ever in October 2026, squeezing households that are already struggling to make ends meet.
Motorists are now paying roughly R9 per litre more than they did at the beginning of the year, and early Central Energy Fund (CEF) data signals that another substantial increase could hit in November.
Mamasole Maduna, a scholar driver who transports school children in Evaton, in the Vaal, said she is already struggling to cope with the soaring cost of fuel and its impact on her business’s profitability.
Maduna and her two colleagues are often parking their vehicles outside the Evaton Mall trying to save fuel by avoiding unnecessary idling and driving between trips.
“I am parking here because I don’t want to waste petrol. I spend my time here after dropping kids off at school. I used to spend R1 200 a week and now it has gone up to R1 600. In a month it was R4 800 and now it is more than R6 000, said the 40 year-old, adding that she and family spent more than R10 000 a month on petrol, excluding food.
She said the prices of gas have also gone up, adding to her struggles.
“I use gas to cook because electricity is expensive. And having to buy gas twice a month leaves me with no money for groceries. In fact, I don't even do the grocery shopping,” she said, pointing three loaves of bread as an example of what her family goes through.
Maduna added that with petrol prices expected to rise again next month, she doesn't know how her family will survive, adding that these are affecting the cost of everything.
She also added that they are afraid to increase transport fees, fearing a loss of business from families who are already facing financial difficulties.
Her friend, Gladys Mhlambi said she often wishes to return home after the morning drop-off, but high fuel prices make it impossible, adding that she must wait until after the afternoon school run. She said this situation forces her to only return home after 5pm.
She said she used to drive for two days on R1 500, but that has completely changed now.
Mhlambi also added that she also relies on gas to cook, which recently jumped in price from R300 to R330, adding to her financial burdens.
Personal transport service provider Thabang Ramaisa said he has no idea how he will cope if petrol prices rise again next month, adding that only people who are rich will survive the situation.
“I make about R5 000 a week during busy periods, but that drops to around R4 000 during quiet weeks. Right now, travel costs me about R600, so any upcoming increases are going to make things really tight,” he said.
He added that the situation will also force many motorists to park their vehicles, which is not a solution as taxi fares could also go up at some point.
Maria Thekiso said the situation has forced her to drive only during emergencies, adding that she can barely afford to fill her tank. The 81-year-old said that she depends entirely on her social grant, which has made life incredibly difficult alongside rising food prices.
United Against Hunger also warned that the hunger and malnutrition crisis is going to get worse because of a combination of a ferocious El Niño weather phenomenon that will bring very high temperatures and low rainfall, as well as rising oil prices and fertiliser costs due to Donald Trump’s violent and illegal disruption of the Middle East.
The organisation said there is still a lack of political or corporate will to address rising hunger and malnutrition in our country.
René Moonsamy, chairperson of the National Debt Counselling Association (NDCA), also added that a regular salary is no longer enough for many South Africans due to the skyrocketing costs of essentials like electricity, transport, and food outstripping a 4.1% average salary growth.
While the National Treasury transferred the R10 billion as an emergency buffer using the Public Finance Management Act, the money remains unused because the state has not yet finalised the design or operational details of the consumer intervention.
Despite being a regional fuel supplier in countries such as Lesotho and Botswana, South Africa has higher pump prices than its neighbors due to local taxes and government regulation.
As of October 2026, the retail price of petrol varies significantly across Southern Africa:
- Angola sits at R5.50 to 6.23 per litre, benefiting from major domestic oil production and heavy government subsidies.
- Botswana (R18.76 to R21.17 per litre) is lower than South Africa due to different road accident funds and fuel levy structures.
- Lesotho (R18.55 to R21.50 per litre)
- Namibia (R18.27 to R22.15 per litre).
Asked why the Basic Fuel Price (BFP) model allows fuel landed and sold to SADC neighbors to retail for less than it does at South African pumps, the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resource’s (DMPR) Lerato Ntsoko acknowledged questions, adding that the department will revert in due course. However, the department did not respond at the time of this publication.
Asked how the R10 billion intervention will directly lower the pump price, the National Treasury said it is currently in a closed period and cannot comment on this matter.
Asked why the BFP formula completely ties domestic fuel costs to the international cost of importing refined petroleum from the Mediterranean or Singapore, ignoring the actual cost of local production, energy expert David Walwayn said the formula has been in use over a long period.
He added that energy and chemical company Sasol benefits heavily when global oil prices are high but suffers when they are low, because its production cost is tied to stable, local coal, while its fuel is priced internationally. Walwayn added that the National Treasury gains from Sasol’s strong performance through tax revenue and an indirect stake via the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC).
Asked if the government has become structurally dependent on high fuel prices with the General Fuel Levy (GFL) and Road Accident Fund (RAF) levy generating tens of billions for the fiscus, economist George Glynos said instead of debating the progressive nature of fiscal levies that heavily burden both the rich and the poor, the focus should shift to the government's failure to control corruption, wasteful expenditure, and social spending.
manyane.manyane@nationalmg.co.za