R30 a Litre and a National Shutdown: Why Pensioners Feel It Most

As the price of fuel continues rising, pensioners are feeling the pinch.

Image: File image

Petrol has crossed R30 a litre, a national shutdown is under way on 19 October, and pensioners say higher transport costs are squeezing them hardest.

A national shutdown over high fuel prices is taking place on Monday, 19 October 2026, as petrol sits above R30 a litre inland. In Durban, demonstrators are marching from King Dinuzulu Park to City Hall. Pensioners' groups warn that the increases hit older people hardest, because many depend on the Older Person's Grant to cover food, electricity, transport and medicine.

Key facts

From Wednesday, 7 October, petrol 93 rose by R3.12 and petrol 95 by R3.33 per litre. Inland, petrol 95 now costs R30.25 and petrol 93 R29.88.
Wholesale diesel (50ppm) rose by R3.58 per litre to R33.29 inland.
A slate levy of 87.66 cents per litre was added to the price structure this month.
The Central Energy Fund's early forecast points to another petrol increase of about R2.26 per litre in November.
The shutdown was called by Concerned Citizens of South Africa, which wants the government to cut fuel taxes and levies.

How prices got here

Fuel prices have climbed sharply this year. BusinessTech's record shows petrol 95 at about R20.30 a litre in March, rising to a then-record R28.06 in June, before easing and then jumping again in October. Industry reports say global oil prices surged in September, with Brent crude moving from about $86 to about $108 a barrel, as conflict in the Middle East disrupts supply. A weaker rand adds to the cost of imported fuel.

What the protesters want

Concerned Citizens of South Africa says the government should review the levies in the pump price and questioned why neighbouring countries supplied from South Africa can sell fuel at lower prices. The group's representative, Ntokozo Mkhize, said cuts must come from the taxes and levies included in the petrol price. The two levies on retail fuel are the general fuel levy and the Road Accident Fund levy. The Automobile Association has also called for relief, saying government could afford to cut the general fuel levy by R3 a litre, which it says would materially reduce the inflationary impact of fuel price changes. South Africa has already used temporary fuel-levy relief this year.

Why pensioners are most exposed

Andre de Bruin, KwaZulu-Natal leader of Pensioners of South Africa, said rising petrol prices were "one of the final nails" in older people's daily struggle to survive. Pensioners who own cars, he said, may be forced to sell them as running costs climb, and those who use taxis or e-hailing services face higher fares. Many older people depend on transport to collect medication, attend medical appointments and reach other essential services. Their grants have to stretch across food, electricity and other necessities.

What this means for you

Transport: taxi fares and delivery costs tend to follow fuel prices, so expect pressure on commuting and grocery costs. Budgeting: if you rely on a grant, plan your monthly spending around the confirmed payment dates. Our report on SASSA payment dates lists them. Understanding the price: our guide to how the petrol price is set explains where each rand goes. Cutting energy costs: see going solar in South Africa.

What happens next

The Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources will announce November's fuel prices around the start of the month. The Central Energy Fund's mid-month data shows where prices are heading.
Whether government responds to calls for levy relief remains to be seen.