![\"Petrol](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Petrol_attendant_fills_up_a_tank_with_South_Af.width-800.png\")
<\/p>\nPetrol could be set to surge again, and your groceries could be next.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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Petrol attendant fills up a tank with South African flag in the background\/iStock\/alexis84<\/p>\n
Just when South African motorists were starting to breathe a little easier after the fuel price cuts earlier this year\u2026 the universe said,\u00a0\u201cNot so fast.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
New data suggests drivers could soon be facing\u00a0another painful spike at the pumps, with petrol and diesel prices expected to climb sharply in April<\/p>\n
According to\u00a0BusinessTech, early data from the\u00a0Central Energy Fund\u00a0(CEF) shows a\u00a0massive under-recovery in fuel prices, which usually signals increases in the coming month.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s break down what this means.<\/p>\n
ALSO READ:\u00a0Iran vows no surrender as air strikes hit Tehran airport<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n Why fuel prices might spike again<\/p>\n Fuel prices in South Africa are influenced by two major factors:\u00a0The global oil price\u00a0and the rand\/dollar exchange rate<\/p>\n Right now, both are working\u00a0against\u00a0motorists. Data from the CEF at the end of the\u00a0first week of March\u00a0shows:<\/p>\n In simple terms, this means fuel is currently\u00a0cheaper than it should be based on international costs, and prices may need to rise to catch up.<\/p>\n If current trends continue through the rest of the month, South Africa could see a\u00a0complete reversal of the price cuts introduced earlier in the year.<\/p>\n Expected fuel price increases (early projections)<\/p>\n Based on current mid-month estimates, motorists could see the following increases in April:<\/p>\n If these projections hold, diesel users (including logistics companies and farmers) could feel the biggest impact.<\/p>\n When diesel prices rise,\u00a0transport costs often increase too, which can eventually push up the price of everyday goods.<\/p>\n It\u2019s essentially a domino effect which could see South Africans struggling to make ends meet.<\/p>\n ALSO READ:\u00a02015 vs 2025: South Africa\u2019s grocery prices have gone up, up and away!<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n What\u2019s causing the surge?<\/p>\n According to reporting by\u00a0BusinessTech, the biggest driver behind the spike is\u00a0geopolitical tension in the Middle East.<\/p>\n The conflict escalated when the\u00a0United States government\u00a0and\u00a0Israel\u00a0launched attacks on\u00a0Iran\u00a0on\u00a028 February 2026.\u00a0<\/p>\n This triggered retaliatory strikes and escalating military action across the region.<\/p>\n Since the Middle East plays a massive role in global oil supply,\u00a0any conflict there tends to rattle oil markets.<\/p>\n As a result, oil prices jumped from about\u00a0$60 per barrel earlier this year to around $85, investors pulled money out of emerging markets and the\u00a0rand weakened from under R16\/$ to around R16.60\/$<\/p>\n Could prices still change?<\/p>\n There is still some uncertainty.\u00a0<\/p>\n Fuel price recoveries can change throughout the month depending on movements in the\u00a0oil price\u00a0and changes in the\u00a0rand\/dollar exchange rate.<\/p>\n However, analysts warn that markets\u00a0do not expect the Middle East conflict to end soon.\u00a0<\/p>\n Reports suggest the\u00a0White House\u00a0anticipates\u00a0four to five weeks of military action, with the possibility of it lasting even longer.<\/p>\n If the conflict continues to pressure global markets,\u00a0fuel prices could remain under strain for months.<\/p>\n ALSO READ:\u00a0Oil prices surge as Mideast war rages, stocks fall on US jobs<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n <\/p>\n East Coast Breakfast new podcast banner \/ ECR Images<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n HOW TO LISTEN TO EAST COAST RADIO<\/b><\/p>\n 1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Listen to East Coast Radio on the FM (frequency modulation<\/a>) spectrum between\u00a094 and 95 FM on your radio.<\/b><\/p>\n 2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Listen live to ECR<\/a>\u00a0by\u00a0clicking here<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0download the ECR App<\/a>\u00a0<\/b>(iOS<\/a>\/Android<\/a><\/b>).<\/b><\/p>\n 3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Listen to\u00a0East Coast Radio on the DStv audio bouquet<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n 4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Switch to the audio bouquet on your OpenView decoder and browse to channel 606.<\/b><\/p>\n 5.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Listen to us on\u00a0Amazon Alexa<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n Follow us on social media:\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n \u00b7\u00a0Facebook<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n \u00b7\u00a0Twitter<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n \u00b7\u00a0Instagram<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n \u00b7\u00a0TikTok<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n \u00b7\u00a0WhatsApp Channel<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n MORE ON EAST COAST RADIO<\/p>\n \n
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![\"East](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/breakfast_0091_ECR_-_Visual_Identity_Guide_-_Sh.original.jpg\")
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