The government of South Africa has announced it will extend its fuel tax reduction for another two months, aiming to ease pressure on households grappling with rising energy costs.
In a joint statement released on Tuesday, officials said the temporary relief measure will run through the end of June.
The move is designed to limit further increases in fuel prices, which have been influenced by global market tensions.
For May, the fuel levy will be reduced by 3 rand per litre on petrol and 3.93 rand per litre on diesel. In June, the reductions will be scaled back slightly, with petrol seeing a 1.5 rand cut per litre and diesel a 1.96 rand decrease.
The government had already introduced a similar reduction in April, when both petrol and diesel levies were lowered by 3 rand per litre.
Authorities had signaled at the time that additional relief could follow, depending on market conditions.
Fuel pricing in South Africa is adjusted monthly using a formula that reflects global oil prices, exchange rate movements, and domestic taxes such as the fuel levy.
By extending the tax cut, officials hope to soften the impact of fluctuating global energy prices on consumers and businesses, while maintaining some level of stability in the local market.
