Petrol is already above R30. Here’s what November’s hike could mean for your wallet
· The South African
The November petrol price is set to climb again, and Gauteng commuters will feel it well beyond the pump.
Inland petrol has already broken the R30 a litre mark.
Visit esporist.com for more information.
Now another increase is on the way.
And it won’t just hit motorists.
It could affect taxi fares, food prices and the cost of getting goods delivered.
According to the latest daily data from the Central Energy Fund (CEF), captured on 16 October, petrol is heading for an increase of about R1.84 to R1.88 a litre in November.
Diesel is projected to rise by about R1.25 a litre.
The new prices will take effect on Wednesday, 4 November.
WHERE THE NOVEMBER PETROL PRICE IS HEADING
In Gauteng, 95 unleaded currently costs R30.25 a litre, and 93 unleaded costs R29.88, after October’s increase of more than R3 a litre.
If the latest projection holds, 95 unleaded would rise to about R32.09 a litre in Gauteng, another record high.
The good news is that it’s far smaller than first feared. In early October, the CEF’s data pointed to a petrol increase of more than R4 a litre.
WHAT IT COULD COST YOU AT THE PUMP
For a typical commuter filling a 50-litre tank with 95 unleaded in Gauteng:
- October: about R1,512 a tank.
- November (projected): about R1,604 a tank.
That’s roughly R92 more every time you fill up.
If you fill up four times a month, that’s about R370 extra a month, on top of October’s increase.
TAXI FARES
For millions of Gauteng commuters who don’t drive, the bigger question is taxi fares.
After October’s fuel hike, the South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO) said it wasn’t yet announcing any fare increases.
“The Council recognises that any adjustment to fares has a direct impact on commuters and therefore believes that all possible options must first be explored before a position is reached,” SANTACO spokesperson Mmatshikhidi Rebecca Phala told EWN.
The council said it would engage the fuel industry and the government on ways to cushion the impact, including through the industry’s collective buying power.
However, fare decisions are made by individual taxi associations.
Earlier in 2026, some Gauteng associations, including in Hebron and Hammanskraal, raised fares by R3 to R5 a trip.
FOOD PRICES
Higher diesel prices affect almost everything on supermarket shelves.
Diesel powers the trucks that move food from farms to shops, so when it goes up, transport costs rise, and those costs are often passed on to shoppers.
Households are already under pressure.
According to the Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity Group (PMBEJD), transport and electricity were already swallowing 62% of a worker’s wage in July 2026.
DELIVERY COSTS
Online shoppers may also notice the difference.
Delivery and courier services rely heavily on fuel, and some pass rising costs on to customers through higher delivery fees or fuel surcharges.
E-hailing services have also introduced temporary fare adjustments during previous fuel price spikes in 2026.
THE TWO NUMBERS TO WATCH
Two factors decide where petrol prices go next.
Brent crude oil;
The international oil price is the biggest driver.
Brent crude climbed above $100 (about R1,645) a barrel in October, reaching about $106 (about R1,744) on 12 October, amid tensions in the Middle East.
If oil prices fall, South Africa’s petrol price could ease.
If they rise, the November increase could grow.
The rand-dollar exchange rate;
Because oil is priced in US dollars, a weaker rand makes fuel more expensive.
The rand has recently firmed slightly, to around R16.50 to the dollar.
Investec chief economist Annabel Bishop said the recent rand appreciation had reduced the size of the fuel hikes building.
WHEN WILL WE KNOW FOR SURE?
The Central Energy Fund’s (CEF’s) daily figures are unaudited and only indicative.
The final November adjustment will be confirmed by the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources at the end of October.
HOW TO CUT YOUR FUEL COSTS
- Fill up before 4 November, if you can, to beat the increase.
- Plan your trips to combine errands and avoid unnecessary driving.
- Check your tyre pressure, since under-inflated tyres use more fuel.
- Consider lift clubs or public transport for regular commutes.
HOW ARE RISING FUEL PRICES AFFECTING YOUR HOUSEHOLD BUDGET?
Let us know in the comments below…