R3 is the number, but it is not the full story.
In this episode of Number of the Day, Gareth Edwards and Francis Herd unpack government’s temporary R3 per litre fuel levy cut and what it really means for South Africans from 1 April 2026. The decision was announced just before steep fuel price hikes kicked in, offering short-term relief to motorists and businesses under pressure from global oil shocks.
The hosts break down the part that matters most to listeners: this is not a fuel price drop. Petrol still rises by R3.06 a litre, and diesel still jumps by between R7.37 and R7.51 a litre. The levy cut simply reduces how bad the increase could have been.
They also dig into the bigger fiscal question. The relief is expected to cost around R6 billion for April alone, and government has signalled that support on this scale can only be sustained for a limited period. So while R3 may feel like breathing room today, the real tension sits in what comes next.
Catch up on all Number of the Day episodes here: https://www.enca.com/number-day-podcast
