Parties want fuel price cuts extended to February budget
Parties told Parliament's finance committees the temporary fuel levy relief should last until the budget in February. Treasury defended the 4 November start date, saying it matches the monthly fuel price adjustments.
From 4 November, the petrol price will drop by at least R1.50 per litre and diesel by R3 per litre. In December, petrol will be R1 lower and diesel R1.50 lower, until 5 January.
ActionSA MP Alan Beesley said the fuel price will still be high in January. He said a rational response would have been to continue the relief until the budget speech in February.
Thulani Gamede of the MK Party said the fuel levy should be scrapped completely. He said the government would not lose revenue, because R10 billion is already earmarked from the Central Energy Fund. The MK Party called the cut an election ploy. Gamede said: "It starts on 4 November, the day of the local government elections, which is hard to read as coincidence."
Treasury Deputy Director-General Chris Axelson said Treasury preferred to align the relief with the monthly fuel price adjustments by the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources.
Key facts
- Who
- Enoch Godongwana (Finance Minister who tabled the mid-term budget); Alan Beesley (ActionSA MP); Thulani Gamede (MKP representative); Chris Axelson (Deputy Director-General, Treasury)
- What
- Parliament's finance committees heard from Treasury on the mid-term budget's fuel levy adjustments. Parties including ActionSA and MK criticised the timing and duration of the fuel price cuts, and Treasury said the start date aligns with monthly fuel price adjustments.
- When
- 23 October 2026
- Where
- South Africa
- Status
- Reported