Just days into 2026, South African motorists have received some much-needed financial breathing room.

The Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources has confirmed a substantial decrease in the price of petrol and diesel, effective Wednesday,  January 07.

The new rates at the pump

Commuters can expect the following changes to their local fuel stations:

• Petrol 93: Down by 62 cents per litre.

• Petrol 95: Down by 66 cents per litre.

• Diesel (0.05%): Down by R1.37 per litre.

• Diesel (0.005%): Down by R1.50 per litre.

• Illuminating Paraffin: Down between R1.10 and R1.48 per litre.

In Gauteng, the price of 95 Petrol will drop from R21.41 to R20.75, while coastal residents will see prices dip below the R20 mark to R19.92 per litre.

Why are prices falling?

The department attributes this relief to a drop in the average Brent Crude oil price, which fell from $63.55 to $61.47 during the review period.

This was largely driven by an oversupply in the global market as both OPEC+ and non-OPEC members increased production.

While petrol and diesel users celebrate, it’s a mixed bag for households using gas; the Maximum Retail Price of LPGas will increase by 21 to 23 cents per kilogram due to tighter global supplies of Propane and Butane.

This downward trend is a welcome reversal following the price hikes experienced in December 2025, offering a smoother start to the year for the transport and logistics sectors