South African Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana announced renewed temporary fuel-levy reductions in his medium-term budget speech on October 21. Reuters reported that the intervention would cost approximately 10 billion rand and was intended to ease household living-cost pressures.
From November 4 to December 1, the levy would fall by 3 rand per litre on diesel and 1.50 rand on petrol. Smaller reductions of 1.50 rand on diesel and 1 rand on petrol would then remain until January 5. The announcement revived temporary relief provided between April and June after international oil prices increased.
Godongwana said stronger fiscal buffers allowed the government to provide assistance without undermining budget sustainability. South Africa imports most of its fuel and remains exposed to international energy-price movements. The budget update projected a consolidated deficit of 3.9% of GDP for the fiscal year, compared with the 4.0% forecast in February. The report concerned a scheduled tax reduction, not a permanent abolition of fuel levies or evidence that every motorist’s final pump price would fall by an identical amount.