Although drivers may benefit from the proposed intervention of 10 billion rands to lower petrol and diesel prices, there is currently no information on how much prices will drop or when this aid will reach gas stations.
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Appropriations approved its report on the Second Special Appropriation Bill on Thursday, October 8, 2026, advancing the proposal for discussion in the National Assembly.
This bill provides for the allocation of 10 billion rands to the Ministry of Mineral and Energy Resources for the Equalisation Fund within the Central Energy Fund. These funds are intended to support measures to stabilize fuel prices, but this does not guarantee an automatic reduction in pump prices.
The committee chairperson, Dr. Mmusisi Maymane, called for the proposed intervention to provide relief to consumers by December. Maymane stated: 'As Parliament and representatives of the people, we must ensure a reduction in fuel prices so that citizens can enter December with some assistance.'
What the proposed 10 billion rand funding can do
Parliament reported that this funding is intended to address the issue of fuel price volatility caused by the conflict in the Middle East. Nevertheless, questions remain regarding exactly how this intervention will work, who will benefit from it, how long it will last, and how its impact will be measured.
The Minister of Finance presented the bill on July 31, after which it was referred to the committee on August 4, 2026. The committee has now adopted its report, which is scheduled for discussion in the National Assembly. The bill itself has not yet been approved.
The committee also insists on closer monitoring of the proposed 10 billion rand expenditure to ensure that the funds are used for their intended purpose. It recommended that the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Mineral and Energy Resources, together with their departments, report to Parliament on potential future fuel price shocks and the circumstances under which assistance measures should be introduced.
Furthermore, the committee demanded detailed reporting on the expenditures under this bill.