South Africa’s temporary fuel-levy relief has three dated phases, with a partial step back in December before the higher general rates return in January. The amounts are levy components, not forecasts of what motorists will pay at the pump.
The rate in force now
The SARS tariff-amendment index lists a general fuel levy of 260 cents per litre for petrol and 93 cents for diesel from 4 November through 1 December 2026.
What changes in December
Notice R.8156, gazetted on 6 November, sets the general levy at 310 cents for petrol and 243 cents for diesel from 2 December through 5 January 2027. Compared with November’s phase, those are increases of 50 cents and 150 cents respectively.
The notice separately lists a carbon fuel levy of 19 cents for petrol and 23 cents for diesel. Adding those components gives fuel-levy totals of 329 cents per litre for petrol and 266 cents for diesel during the December phase.
The January restoration
Notice R.8153, also dated 6 November, restores the general rates to 410 cents for petrol and 393 cents for diesel from 6 January. Its separate carbon components remain 19 cents and 23 cents, bringing the combined fuel levies to 429 cents and 416 cents.
The December rates therefore remain below the January general rates, even though they are higher than November’s. A reduction measured against January’s rate is not another cut measured against November’s.
These statutory figures describe the general and carbon fuel levies, rather than every tax or cost included in fuel. They do not establish a future retail price, a guaranteed saving or the size of a monthly pump-price adjustment.
