Government extends fuel levy relief amid May price hikes

Finance and mineral resources ministers extend fuel levy reductions until June to provide short-term relief against surging global oil prices.

May 2, 2026

Gugu Myeni 2 minutes read

Experts say it's too early for motorists to expect relief at the pumps Photo: Supplied

THE temporary reduction in the General Fuel Levy has been extended until June.

This is amid expected fuel price hikes next week caused by ongoing geopolitical tensions that have resulted in ‘consistent pressure’ on global oil prices.

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In a joint statement released this week, Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana and Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources Gwede Mantashe, announced the reduction to provide limited short-term relief to households.

An almost R2 hike in petrol has been projected for May, with diesel expected to increase by more than R5 per litre.

This follows April’s R3.06 cents per litre petrol price increase and diesel’s R7.37 cents per litre hike.

Illuminating paraffin went up by R11.67 cents per litre.

Godongwana has since proposed that the R3 per litre reduction in the general fuel levy for petrol be extended until Tuesday, 2 June.

“Given the large expected increases in the price of diesel, the minister of finance proposes that the temporary relief for diesel is increased by 93 cents to R3.93 per litre, reducing the levy to zero, from Wednesday, 6 May to Tuesday, 2 June.

“The general fuel levy for petrol will remain at R1.10 per litre, and the general fuel levy for diesel will decrease from R0.93 per litre to R0.00 per litre,” the National Treasury said in a statement.

“The minister further proposed that the level of relief be halved to phase out the relief before July. As a result, the amount of relief from the general fuel levy will be reduced to R1.50 per litre for petrol and R1.96 per litre for diesel, effective from Wednesday, 3 June to Tuesday, 30 June.

“This will increase the general fuel levy for petrol from R1.10 per litre to R2.60 per litre and increase the general fuel levy for diesel from R0.00 per litre to R1.97 per litre.

“From 1 July onwards, the general fuel levy for petrol will return to R4.10 per litre, and the general fuel levy for diesel will return to R3.93 per litre,” Treasury stated.

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