South Africa announces R10 billion fuel-levy relief

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana announced R10 billion in temporary fuel-levy relief in South Africa’s 2026 Medium Term Budget Policy Statement, cutting petrol and diesel levies in two stages before the measure is scheduled to end on January 5, 2027. From November 4 to December 1, the levy will be reduced by R1.50 per litre for petrol and R3 per litre for diesel. From December 2 through January 5, the reductions will narrow to R1 per litre for petrol and R1.50 per litre for diesel. The measures are intended to ease pressure on households and businesses facing fuel costs. The relief is funded by R10 billion in revenue collected above forecast in the 2025-26 financial year, according to National Treasury Director-General Duncan Pieterse. The money was transferred to the Central Energy Fund for the intervention and is to be returned to the National Revenue Fund and placed in the contingency reserve, the reports said. The South African National Taxi Council, or SANTACO, welcomed the cuts and said there would be no immediate fuel-related taxi fare increases while it engages the government on longer-term measures. The council has said the temporary relief does not resolve...