September petrol and diesel prices: what South Africans will pay from Wednesday
Fuel relief for South Africans: diesel drops by over 55c/l while petrol sees modest cuts from 3 September 2025.
Motorists across South Africa can expect welcome relief at the pumps this September, with diesel users set to benefit the most. The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) is preparing to implement the latest fuel price changes on Wednesday, 3 September 2025, following the release of month-end data by the Central Energy Fund (CEF).
While petrol prices are only expected to dip marginally, the projected cuts to diesel are significant — and could help soften inflationary pressures in the broader economy.
Diesel savings lead the way
According to unaudited CEF figures, wholesale diesel prices are forecast to fall by 55 to 56 cents per litre. The cut applies across both the 50ppm (low sulphur) and 500ppm grades, making it one of the largest downward adjustments to diesel this year.
Should the DMRE confirm these numbers, diesel will retail at around R18.72 per litre at the coast and R19.48 inland in Gauteng. This marks a notable reversal of the steady price increases seen during July, when diesel climbed by more than 60 cents per litre, pushing up transport costs and filtering through to the price of consumer goods.
Diesel is particularly important in the South African economy given its role in powering freight, agriculture, and public transport. Lower diesel costs typically reduce pressure on logistics and food prices, which in turn helps to stabilise inflation.
Petrol dips slightly
For petrol users, the September outlook is less dramatic, with modest reductions on the cards. Petrol 95 Unleaded is set to drop by 4 cents per litre, while Petrol 93 Unleaded is expected to decrease by 12 cents per litre.
- Petrol 95 (coast): R20.76
- Petrol 95 (Gauteng): R21.55
- Petrol 93 (inland): R21.39
- Diesel 50ppm (coast): R18.72
- Diesel 50ppm (Gauteng): R19.48
Petrol has shown relative stability throughout 2025, with prices fluctuating within a narrow range. In fact, 95 Unleaded is currently around 4 cents cheaper than it was at the beginning of the year.
Rand resilience and oil softness
Two main factors have driven the September price cuts: a strengthening rand and softer international oil prices.
Over the course of August, the rand moved from contributing to an under-recovery in fuel pricing to supporting an over-recovery, trading mostly in the R17.60 to R17.70 per US dollar range during the final week of the month. Although the local unit slipped towards the end of August due to dollar strength and US Federal Reserve policy concerns, it still added roughly 2 cents per litre in relief for South African motorists.
Global oil prices have also tilted downward. Brent crude hovered below $68 a barrel, marking the first monthly decline since April. This was largely due to concerns about oversupply, rising inventories, and geopolitical uncertainty. The International Energy Agency has flagged the risk of a glut in the months ahead, while OPEC+ continues to bring additional capacity back online.
While the petrol price impact was limited, diesel benefitted significantly. A tighter diesel market earlier in the year had pushed prices higher, but August’s rebalancing now favours South African consumers.
Broader economic context
The timing of this relief is significant. South Africa’s Consumer Price Inflation (CPI) rose from 3.0% in June to 3.5% in July, driven partly by food inflation and earlier diesel hikes. Lower diesel prices this September could ease pressure on household budgets and help contain transport-linked costs in the coming months.
However, economists caution that the reprieve may be temporary. The rand remains undervalued, with structural issues such as low growth, power constraints, and logistics bottlenecks adding around R4 per dollar in perceived risk premium. Similarly, oil markets remain vulnerable to geopolitical shocks, meaning any sustained decline in fuel costs cannot be guaranteed.
Official announcement pending
The DMRE is expected to confirm the official September fuel price adjustments early this week. If the projections hold, motorists will enjoy a mixed outcome: relatively small savings at the petrol pumps, but much-needed relief on diesel that could ripple positively across the economy.
For South Africans juggling rising living costs, even small reductions in fuel expenses offer some breathing room. And while the longer-term outlook remains uncertain, September’s adjustment brings a rare dose of good news.
