South Africans planning long-distance Easter travel may face sharply higher fuel costs as international oil prices surge and local petrol prices are set to increase.. Picture Credit: Timeless News
By Aisha Zardad
South Africa — South Africans planning long-distance trips over the Easter weekend should brace for significantly higher fuel expenses. In 2026, the long weekend runs from Friday, 3 April, to Monday, 6 April, with fuel prices set to adjust on Wednesday, 1 April.
Motorists planning to travel should consider filling up by Tuesday, 31 March, as petrol and diesel are expected to see a record monthly increase. The spike is driven by surging international oil prices following the US–Israel–Iran conflict, which has disrupted tanker movements in the Persian Gulf and slowed oil supply worldwide.
Analysts report Brent Crude oil trading above $100 per barrel, while Dubai Crude futures have climbed past $127 per barrel — a key benchmark for oil exported to the Asia-Pacific region. Efforts by the International Energy Agency to release 400 million barrels from strategic reserves have done little to ease concerns.
Locally, under-recoveries for fuels have been recorded by the Central Energy Fund (CEF), signalling sharp price increases for motorists. A litre of unleaded 95 petrol currently shows an under-recovery of R4.27, unleaded 93 petrol R3.87, and 50ppm diesel R7.15 — particularly impactful for large SUVs and bakkies.
Based on these forecasts, a typical vehicle consuming 7.4 litres per 100km (IEA South Africa average) could see the following costs for popular routes:
| Route | Distance | Cost with current petrol price | R3.27 increase | R4.27 increase | R5.27 increase |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Johannesburg to Durban | 567 km | R852 | R989 | R1,031 | R1,073 |
| Johannesburg to Bloemfontein | 398 km | R598 | R694 | R724 | R753 |
| Johannesburg to Cape Town | 1,398 km | R2,100 | R2,438 | R2,542 | R2,645 |
Motorists traveling from Johannesburg to Durban, for example, could pay nearly R180 more for a one-way trip if petrol prices rise as forecasted. A trip from Johannesburg to Cape Town could see an increase of over R300.
Travelers are advised to plan ahead, consider filling up early, and monitor the official fuel price announcement at the end of March to avoid surprises over the Easter weekend.
