South African motorists will get more short-term relief at the pumps after National Treasury confirmed an extension of the temporary fuel levy cut for May and June 2026.

The move comes as households brace for another fuel price increase, with global oil pressure continuing to hit local fuel costs.

National Treasury said the R3 per litre reduction in the general fuel levy for petrol will remain in place until Tuesday, 2 June 2026. Diesel relief will be increased to R3.93 per litre from Wednesday, 6 May 2026 to Tuesday, 2 June 2026, bringing the diesel levy down to zero for that period.

Diesel Users Get a Bigger Cushion

The diesel cut is the biggest relief measure in the announcement. It is expected to help transport operators, farmers, manufacturers and other sectors that rely heavily on diesel.

Treasury said the general fuel levy for petrol will stay at R1.10 per litre in May. The diesel levy will drop from R0.93 per litre to R0.00 per litre.

According to projections cited in the report, diesel could rise by R5.42 per litre, while 95 octane petrol could increase by more than R2 per litre on the first Wednesday of May.

Relief Will Be Phased Out

The relief will not last forever. Treasury plans to halve the support in June before ending the temporary cut from July.

From Wednesday, 3 June 2026 to Tuesday, 30 June 2026, relief will drop to R1.50 per litre for petrol and R1.96 per litre for diesel. From 1 July, the general fuel levy is expected to return to R4.10 per litre for petrol and R3.93 per litre for diesel.

Government Balances Cost and Pressure

Treasury said the relief is meant to protect households from rising fuel costs while also limiting the impact on inflation and economic growth.

The measure is not cheap. Government estimates the temporary fuel levy relief from April to June 2026 will cost R17.2 billion in foregone tax revenue. Treasury said it will be funded through higher-than-expected tax revenue and underspending.

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana has warned that government cannot keep extending fuel support indefinitely without putting pressure on the tax system. For now, the relief gives South Africans some breathing room, but the bigger fuel squeeze is far from over.