Johannesburg – The massive fuel price hikes announced by Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe have sparked an outcry from concerned organisations.
Minister Mantashe has announced increases of R3.33 a litre for 95 unleaded, R3.12 for 93, and up to R3.24 for diesel effective from tomorrow, Wednesday 7 October 2026.
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Reacting to the price hikes, the Motor Industry Staff Association (MISA), which previously warned that high fuel prices were driving workers below the survival line, said: “This latest increase lands on households with nothing left to absorb it”.
Martlé Keyter, Chief Executive Officer: Operations at MISA said: “Workers cannot pay R30 a litre to get to work while the state takes more than R4 of every litre”.
Keyter said the government has already proven fuel levy relief was possible, and conditions that justified it in April were worse today.
“We are asking government to do again what it has already shown it can do,” said Keyter.
MISA called for a temporary reduction of the General Fuel Levy by at least R3 a litre on petrol and diesel, alongside targeted relief for households reliant on paraffin who were excluded from April’s measures.
MISA also demanded urgent engagement at NEDLAC to review the levies and margins built into every litre.
“Workers are being crushed between fuel, electricity, and food costs. Relief is not optional; it is a matter of survival,” MISA said.
The General Industries Workers Union of South Africa (GIWUSA) said it notes with grave concern the highest fuel prices in its history.
“When fuel prices rise, taxi fares rise, food prices rise, and the cost of every basic necessity rises,” GIWUSA stated.
“Another record fuel price is another blow. It is a direct assault on the living standards of the working class.
“This crisis is manufactured by policy, private ownership of the petroleum industry, and the failure to plan for national resilience.
“Government can act. It has acted before. It must act now.”
