• South African fuel prices are set for a wide range of decreases from Wednesday 5th April.
• According to the AA, diesel is likely to see a price decrease of about 53 cents while petrol prices are also set to be lowered.
• This is as international oil prices have proved beneficial for South Africa in recent weeks.

South Africans motorists are set for a bit of a break next month as the prices for fuels like petrol and diesel are set to decrease, according to the Automobile Association of South Africa (AA).

Speaking to eNCA this morning, AA spokesperson Layton Beard said that South Africa’s fuel prices will decrease from Wednesday 5th April. The AA expects a full announcement to be made closer to that time, either Sunday or Monday, with more information on the exact price changes.

While still too early to know precisely what price changes are coming to products like illuminating paraffin and petrol, Beard did say that motorists can expect the price of diesel to decrease by around 53 cents.

However, he noted that “the situation is pretty flat for petrol” but “in all likelihood, we will see a decrease to [petrol prices], the question now is exactly how much that will be.”

At this juncture, the outlook for fuel prices across the board is a positive one heading into the Easter month with price increases for April “unlikely”. Millions more South Africans will be on the roads from the first week of April as they take advantage of the Easter weekend starting on the 8th.

Beard explained that there are usually two main factors that impact fuel prices in South Africa.

These are the South African Rand/ US Dollar exchange rate, and international oil prices. General trends in the latter, he says, are playing a positive role in South Africa and are leading to a decrease in fuel prices. However, the weaker Rand against the US Dollar is shaving off some of the gains made in this regard.

Often the busiest period of the country’s roads except for the end-year holidays, the Easter weekend is also known for a higher number of road accidents and fatalities. In the past, the AA has urged drivers to obey the rules of the road and ensure their safety.

If you will be among the many drivers taking advantage of the lowered prices this Easter, we urge you to do the same.

[Image – Photo by engin akyurt on Unsplash]