“I knew it was bad”: Reports claiming petrol price surging 43% has South Africans fuming

• South Africa's 95 unleaded petrol price surged 43% in roughly a year, hitting R30.25 per litre at inland forecourts
• A segment broke down the staggering increase, linking it to global oil spikes and the phasing out of fuel levy relief
• South Africans online were furious, pointing fingers at government as household budgets stretched even thinner

South Africa's petrol price has climbed a staggering 43% in just over a year, and a viral eNCA segment has left motorists counting the cost in disbelief.

The clip, shared on Facebook, features two hosts in a podcast-style studio breaking down what they called the "number of the day": 43, as in 43%. In November last year, when Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana delivered the medium-term budget, 95 unleaded petrol in Gauteng cost R21.12 per litre. By October 2026, that figure had climbed to R30.25, following a R3.33-per-litre hike on 7 October. One of the hosts summed it up plainly:

"I knew it was bad. I didn't know it was 43%."

What is driving the surge

Several factors combined to push prices to their current record highs. Brent crude crossed $100 a barrel after fresh geopolitical tensions in the Middle East sent global oil markets into turmoil. At the same time, the temporary general fuel-levy relief that had shaved up to R3 per litre off the pump price earlier in the year was fully phased out by mid-2026, removing a buffer millions of South Africans had come to rely on.

Inland 93 unleaded sits slightly lower at R29.88 per litre, while 95 unleaded remains the more expensive option due to the added cost of transporting fuel to Gauteng. With the next medium-term budget policy statement due on Wednesday, motorists are watching closely to see whether government will introduce new relief measures. President Cyril Ramaphosa and the Treasury have signalled they are weighing options, though officials have cautioned that large-scale subsidies put significant pressure on public finances.

Watch the segment that sparked the conversation here.

Mzansi reacts with frustration

South Africans in the comments section were not holding back:

@Jonathan Rielly wrote:

"ANC a better life for all...."

@Njabulo Khanyile said:

"Ramaphosa's bosses are happy seeing South Africa being driven to the ground; that was their mission, and this man is doing a great job."

@Isak Philippus Naude added:

"Shrinking, why no oil reserves and tax? Consider how much tax we pay on top of the PAYE on your salary."

@Barry Van Staden commented:

"Viva ANC."

@Mashaba Simon Silasi simply said:

"I blame Ramaphosa."

@Evershan Pillay put it bluntly:

"By spending the salary. People are basically working for free all year."

More on South Africa’s rising fuel prices

• Briefly News recently reported on a viral video of South Africans celebrating a full tank at an Engen garage, which brought some laughs amid rising fuel prices.
• Botswana’s petrol price is R8.39 cheaper per litre than South Africa’s, even though it imports most of its fuel from SA.
• Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana announced a temporary fuel levy reduction in his Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement, but South Africans say it does not go far enough.

Source: Briefly News

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