South Africa: Motorists Buy Petrol in Dribs and Drabs As Wallets Empty

What the report says

South African motorists are increasingly buying smaller amounts of petrol as household budgets come under pressure, according to data released by Discovery Insure and reported by Scrolla/AllAfrica. The insurer said purchases of under 20 litres made up about 36% of fuel transactions among its clients in 2026, up from 25% in 2025. It also said average monthly fuel spending rose from roughly R1,750 in early 2025 to about R2,500-R2,700 by mid-2026.

The findings were based on fuel transactions and driving data from more than 200,000 Discovery Insure clients, rather than the whole South African market. The report said motorists were trying to manage short-term cash flow by paying for less fuel at each stop, even though that does not reduce the price per litre or the amount needed for the same trip. In months with larger fuel-price increases, the average purchase reportedly dropped from around 36 litres to 31 litres.

The article said the pressure intensified after the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources raised fuel prices in October 2026, including a R3.33 per litre increase for 95 petrol on 7 October. It also cited Statistics South Africa data showing transport inflation remained high in September, with fuel prices and passenger transport costs rising faster than overall inflation. Discovery Insure chief executive Robert Attwell was quoted as saying transport is a cost many households cannot simply eliminate, especially when travel is essential for work and family needs.