Godongwana cuts fuel levy for diesel and petrol until January
Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana has announced a temporary fuel levy reduction, with deeper cuts first and smaller ones running until early January 2027.
Motorists are set to get some relief at the pumps after Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana announced a temporary cut to the fuel levy. He made the announcement while presenting his mid-term budget speech on Wednesday, 21 October 2026, according to The Citizen.
How much the levy will drop
The first phase starts on 4 November 2026 and runs until 1 December 2026. In that period, the levy on diesel will come down by R3 for every litre, while petrol will drop by R1.50 a litre.
The relief does not end there. Godongwana said it would carry on in a reduced form until 5 January 2027. In that second phase, diesel will be cut by R1.50 a litre and petrol by R1 a litre.
- 4 November to 1 December 2026: R3 off diesel and R1.50 off petrol, per litre
- Until 5 January 2027: R1.50 off diesel and R1 off petrol, per litre
Why motorists wanted relief
The announcement follows pressure from the public for help with fuel costs. The Citizen reported that mid-month data pointed to a petrol price increase of close to R2 a litre in November. It linked this to high global oil prices and a weaker rand.
The levy cut is therefore likely to soften the blow, although the official price adjustment for November has not yet been confirmed in the report.
What this means for you
If you drive to work, run a taxi or depend on goods delivered by truck, the cut could ease some pressure on your monthly budget. Diesel gets the bigger reduction, which matters for transport and freight.
- Watch for the official November fuel price announcement to see how the levy cut affects pump prices.
- Remember that the relief is temporary and shrinks after 1 December 2026.
- Expect it to end on 5 January 2027.
Other news from Wednesday
The Citizen also reported that a bomb threat against an aircraft carrying 184 passengers at King Phalo Airport in KuGompo City was found to be a false alarm. The weather service forecast a warm to hot day on Thursday, 22 October, with a heatwave expected in Limpopo’s Western Bushveld.
This story is based on reporting by The Citizen.
