The latest data now suggests that South Africa’s motorists will almost certainly be in for some pain at the pumps in early November.
As reported by The South African website, petrol and diesel vehicle owners in Mzansi enjoyed a big cut in the cost of petrol and diesel earlier this month.
It was the fifth straight month of decreases in prices.
Alas, that ‘run’ appears likely to end in early November 2024.
While the current petrol and diesel numbers still suggest another cut lies ahead next month, the numbers are worsening by the day, with still four weeks remaining.
This is due to a combination of thee rand depreciating against the dollar and the price of oil continuing to rise thanks to ongoing unrest in the Middle East.
Below, the latest projections as received by The South African website from the Central Energy Fund (CEF), effective Tuesday, 8 October.
| FUEL | PRICE CHANGE |
| Petrol 93 | decrease of 33 cents |
| Petrol 95 | decrease of 25 cents |
| Diesel 0.05% | decrease of 20 cents |
| Diesel 0.005% | decrease of 21 cents |
| Illuminating Paraffin | decrease of 26 cents |
If the market conditions were to remain consistent for the remainder of the month – an unlikely scenario with the rand/dollar exchange rate ever fluctuating and the oil price changing – a decrease of 33 cents is expected for petrol 93 octane motorists and a decrease of 25 cents for 95 users.
Meanwhile, diesel motorists would see something between a 20 to 21 cents per litre decrease.
Finally, illuminating paraffin is expected to decrease by 26 cents.
FUEL PRICE IN SOUTH AFRICA IMPACTED BY TWO MAIN FACTORS:
1. The international price of petroleum products, driven mainly by oil prices
2. The rand/dollar exchange rate used in the purchase of these products
Oil price
At the time of publishing the brent crude oil price is $77.83 a barrel.
Exchange rate
At the time of publishing the rand/dollar exchange rate is R17.65/$.
The final overall price changes for both petrol and diesel will be confirmed in the weeks ahead with the new prices taking effect at midnight on Tuesday, 5 November.
Go easy on the accelerator until then, Mzansi.
The current October 2024 petrol and diesel prices (Inland and Coastal):
| INLAND | October |
| Petrol 93 | R20.73 |
| Petrol 95 | R21.05 |
| Diesel 0.05% | R18.45 |
| Diesel 0.005% | R18.57 |
| Illuminating Paraffin | R12.66 |
| COASTAL | October |
| Petrol 93 | R19.94 |
| Petrol 95 | R20.26 |
| Diesel 0.05% | R17.66 |
| Diesel 0.005% | R17.81 |
| Illuminating Paraffin | R11.66 |
