After months of feeling the squeeze every time they filled up, South African motorists can finally breathe a sigh of relief.
Fuel prices are heading down in May 2025—and it’s a much-needed break for everyone feeling the cost-of-living pressure.
Whether you’re a daily commuter or planning a road trip, this drop comes as welcome news.
Here’s everything you need to know about the new fuel prices and what’s behind the shift.
Fuel Prices Drop Across the Board
The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) officially announced that fuel prices will go down starting Wednesday, 7 May 2025.
Petrol and diesel users can expect noticeable savings at the pump:
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Petrol (both 93 and 95 unleaded): Down by 22 cents per litre
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Diesel: Reduced by between 41 and 42 cents per litre
So yes, it’s finally getting a bit cheaper to keep your tank full.
What’s Behind the Decrease? Oil Prices Take a Dive
This price drop is largely thanks to falling global oil prices.
Brent crude, which is the international benchmark for oil, tumbled from $71.04 to $66.40 per barrel over April.
According to the DMRE, the key reasons were a mix of global tensions and fears of a looming economic slowdown—fueled in part by U.S. tariff moves and growing uncertainty in global trade.
On top of that, OPEC+ unexpectedly increased oil production, flooding the market and pushing prices down even further.
All of this led to lower prices for refined fuels like petrol, diesel, and paraffin on the global stage.
The Rand Slipped—But Not Enough to Cancel Out the Gains
While cheaper oil helped, the weaker rand did try to rain on the parade.
Between 28 March and 1 May 2025, the rand dropped in value, averaging R18.8382 to the dollar, compared to R18.2957 in the previous period.
This added cost pressure to fuel prices:
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Petrol: +29.13 cents per litre
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Diesel: +30.34 cents per litre
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Paraffin: +30.24 cents per litre
But thanks to the drop in oil prices, the effects of the weaker currency didn’t fully erase the benefit.
No Hike in Fuel Taxes—Well, Almost
The Finance Minister delivered some good news in his March 2025 Budget Speech—fuel taxes like the Fuel Levy and RAF Levy remain unchanged:
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Fuel Levy:
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Petrol: 396.00 c/l
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Diesel: 384.00 c/l
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Road Accident Fund Levy:
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Both petrol and diesel: 218.00 c/l
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However, there was a small bump in the Carbon Fuel Levy, which now stands at:
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Petrol: 14c/l
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Diesel: 17c/l
This takes the total fuel levies up to 399.00 c/l for petrol and 387.00 c/l for diesel.
Meanwhile, the slate levy (used to balance out price discrepancies) remains at zero cents per litre for both petrol and diesel.
A Welcome Win for Motorists
Even with the rand’s drop and a small increase in carbon tax, the overall fuel price cut is a win.
South African drivers will finally get a bit of breathing space—and maybe even a few extra rand in their pockets each month.
Whether it’s your daily commute or weekend plans, May is looking like a better month to be on the road.
