Fuel price pain returns as September increases loom
Fuel prices are set to rise again in September, with diesel expected to increase the most, while petrol climbs a couple of cents.
POLOKWANE – Just weeks after a modest drop at the pumps, Limpopo motorists are bracing for another round of fuel price increases in September, with diesel set to take the biggest hit.
According to mid-August data from the Central Energy Fund (CEF), all fuel grades have moved into under-recovery territory, meaning the current prices no longer cover the cost of importing fuel, pointing to increases at the pumps from September 2.
What the numbers show
Based on the latest CEF snapshot, motorists could face the following increases when the new prices take effect:
| Fuel Type | Expected increase |
| Petrol 93 | Around R0.66 per litre |
| Petrol 95 | Around R0.77 per litre |
| Diesel 0.05% | Around R2.73 per litre |
| Diesel 0.005% | Around R2.89 per litre |
| Illuminating paraffin | Around R2.15 per litre |
Diesel is facing the most severe pressure, with increases of nearly R3 per litre expected. Petrol increases are more modest but still significant, at around 66 to 77 cents per litre.
What this means for Limpopo households
For a standard 45-litre petrol car, the expected increase of 77 cents per litre adds roughly R35 to a full tank.
For diesel users, the impact is far more severe. A 100-litre diesel fill-up could cost almost R290 more than it did in August.
Illuminating paraffin users, many of whom rely on the fuel for heating and cooking, also face an increase of more than R2 per litre.
A note on the projections
The mid-month projections are based on CEF tracking data and are not final. The official fuel prices for September will be confirmed by the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources in the last week of August, with the new prices taking effect at midnight on Wednesday, September 2.
The final adjustments will depend on the performance of oil prices and the rand-dollar exchange rate for the remainder of the month
