The slate levy is one of the smaller lines in South Africa’s fuel price structure, but it attracts attention whenever it moves. In October 2026 it rose to 87.66 cents a litre. Here is what it is and why it changes.
What is the slate?
Fuel prices are set monthly using average costs from the previous review period. In practice, the actual cost of fuel during the month in which those prices apply is usually different. The slate is an account that records the cumulative difference between what the regulated price recovers and what it should have recovered.
When regulated prices recover more than actual costs, the slate builds a positive balance (an over-recovery). When they recover less, the balance turns negative (an under-recovery).
What the slate levy does
When the slate balance becomes significantly negative, the department raises the slate levy, a per-litre charge built into the price of petrol and diesel, to bring the balance back towards zero. At the end of August 2026 the cumulative petrol and diesel slate balance was a negative R10.456 billion, which is why the levy rose from 83.28 to 87.66 cents a litre.
Why it matters
The slate levy is a reminder that the price you pay this month partly reflects last month’s market. In volatile periods, a rising levy can keep prices elevated for a while after international prices have eased. Buyers planning budgets should treat it as a lagging component.
Read next: How South Africa’s fuel price is calculated.
Published by African Energy Enterprises. This article is general information and does not constitute legal, tax or financial advice. Regulated prices and rules change; confirm current figures with the relevant authority.
