September 2025 Petrol & Diesel Price Cuts in South Africa: What Workers, Job Seekers, and SMEs Should Know
Effective date: Wednesday, 3 September 2025
According to the official price adjustment for September 2025, petrol (93 & 95) decreases by 4c/l, diesel 0.05% drops by 56c/l, diesel 0.005% drops by 57c/l, illuminating paraffin falls by 37c/l, and LPGAS decreases by R1.32/kg (Saldanha: R1.51/kg). The slate levy remains 0c/l from 3 September 2025.
Introduction
Fuel is one of the biggest monthly costs for South Africa’s workforce—commuters, delivery riders, contractors, sales reps, truck and bus drivers, and small businesses with company vehicles. September’s official reduction—modest on petrol, significant on diesel—offers welcome relief. Below we explain how these changes affect your take-home pay, transport budgets, and hiring decisions, plus practical ways to capture the savings immediately.
Official pump-price guide (September vs August)
| Inland | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fuel | August Official | September Official |
| 93 Petrol | R21.51 | R21.47 |
| 95 Petrol | R21.59 | R21.55 |
| Diesel 0.05% (wholesale) | R20.00 | R19.44 |
| Diesel 0.005% (wholesale) | R20.04 | R19.47 |
| Illuminating Paraffin | R13.47 | R13.10 |
| LPGAS (per kg) | R36.08 | R34.76 |
| Coastal | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fuel | August Official | September Official |
| 93 Petrol | R20.72 | R20.68 |
| 95 Petrol | R20.76 | R20.72 |
| Diesel 0.05% (wholesale) | R19.17 | R18.61 |
| Diesel 0.005% (wholesale) | R19.28 | R18.71 |
| Illuminating Paraffin | R12.46 | R12.09 |
| LPGAS (per kg) | R32.92 | R31.60 |
| LPGAS (Saldanha WC) | R35.30 | R33.79 |
Note: Diesel figures are wholesale; pump prices may vary by retailer and region.
Why it matters / Opportunities
- Commuters and job seekers: Even small per-litre changes add up over a month. A 60L petrol tank saves R2.40 per fill on petrol; four fills per month is ~R9.60. Not huge, but every rand helps if you’re interviewing, upskilling, or starting a new role that requires daily travel.
- Diesel-reliant workers and SMEs: The diesel cut is meaningful. A bakkie using 120L/week saves about R67.20/week (0.56 Ă— 120), or nearly R270/month. For courier fleets, agriculture, construction, and logistics, this can improve margins and hiring capacity.
- LPGAS users: Cheaper LPG can lower costs for food businesses, mobile kitchens, and households—freeing budget for transport or job search expenses.
- Budget certainty: With the slate levy at 0c/l, September starts without an added buffer charge on petrol and diesel, simplifying short-term cash-flow planning.
How to apply / What to expect (practical steps)
- Update your transport budget today: Recalculate your monthly commuting cost using the new pump prices above. If you’re job hunting, factor this into your expected salary or stipend.
- Drivers & riders: refresh your rates: Couriers, e-hailing, and delivery riders should adjust per-km or per-drop rates to reflect lower diesel/petrol inputs while protecting overall earnings.
- Employees using private cars: Talk to HR about mileage reimbursements or travel allowances for business trips. Employers often use SARS-aligned methods for travel allowances. See SARS for tax guidance.
- SMEs & contractors: Re-quote projects with updated diesel assumptions—especially in logistics, farming, and construction—so your bids stay competitive without eroding margins.
- Job search leverage: For roles requiring daily field travel (sales, merchandisers, site supervisors), ask about company fuel cards, vehicle policies, or per-km reimbursements at interview stage.
Common challenges
- Volatility risk: Global supply/demand and the rand/USD can swing quickly. Treat September’s cut as a one-month view; build a contingency line in your budget for future increases.
- Regional differences: Inland vs coastal prices differ. Always check your local pump before committing to a long commute or delivery quotation.
- Wholesale vs pump: Diesel wholesale changes don’t always match pump prices immediately. Shops may adjust at different times.
- Vehicle efficiency: Real-world consumption varies with traffic, load, tyre pressure, and driving style. Your savings depend on how (and where) you drive.
Tips for success
- Pick the right octane: If your car is designed for 93, choosing 95 won’t usually improve economy enough to justify the extra cents. Check your manual.
- Plan routes & combine trips: Fewer cold starts and better routing mean lower fuel burn—key for sales reps and delivery drivers.
- Tyres & maintenance: Proper pressure and timely services can improve economy by 3–10%—a bigger gain than many monthly price tweaks.
- Leverage allowances smartly: Understand how travel allowances and reimbursements are taxed. Keep accurate logs to stay compliant and maximise legitimate claims (SARS).
- Monitor monthly: Fuel adjusts around the first Wednesday each month. Set a reminder to refresh your budget when new prices go live.
Useful resources
- Department of Mineral Resources & Energy (DMRE) – official fuel price notices and regulatory updates.
- Automobile Association (AA) – motoring advice, cost-of-ownership insights.
- South African Revenue Service (SARS) – travel allowance & logbook guidance.
- Gov.za and Department of Employment & Labour – employment services and regulatory info.
- DPSA – public sector vacancy circulars and HR policy resources.
- Wikihii South Africa – job-ready guides, salary insights, and transport budgeting tips for candidates and SMEs.
Conclusion
September 2025’s fuel adjustment offers modest relief for petrol users and a stronger boost for diesel-dependent roles and businesses. Use this window to recalibrate commuting costs, renegotiate allowances, and sharpen quotations. Staying proactive—month by month—helps job seekers and employers protect real income and unlock room to hire, travel, and deliver.
Stay ahead: Get fast updates on fuel, jobs, and career tips via our WhatsApp channel – Join Wikihii Updates on WhatsApp. For more job-focused guides and savings strategies, visit Wikihii South Africa.
