This is in response to a video doing the WhatsApp rounds about why the SA Government is ‘ripping’ us off.
The figures are presented as a ‘rip-off’ but with no suitable comparison to show if we are really being ripped off with onerous taxes.
So I chose the one country that started all this colonial shit in South Africa – the United Kingdom – and had a look see what taxes they raise on a liter of petrol.
All figures based on March 2026.
And, you may go away thinking that SA is not so bad after all.
United Kingdom Fuel and Taxes
The price for fuel in the UK per liter – 159.2 pence (R34.20)
The UK’s taxes and VAT is added as follows:
- Flat Rate of 52.95 pence (R11.58)
- 20% VAT of 26.54 pence (R5.80)
Imputing:
- 132.66 pence (R29.03) before VAT
- 79.71 pence (R17.44) )before Flat Rate Duty
Percentages:
- 50.07% to fuel cost, delivery and margins
- 49.93% in taxes
South Africa Fuel and Taxes
The price for fuel in South Africa per liter – R21.50
- Actual Fuel Cost including Wholesale and Retail Margins plus Storage and Transport – R14.11 per liter
- Taxes – Fuel Levy (R3.83), RAF (R8.13) and Other Levies (R1.43) for a total of R7.39 per liter.
Giving a fuel cost per liter of R21.50
Percentages:
- 48% to fuel cost
- 18% to cost of delivery and margins
- 34% in taxes
Conclusion:
South Africa’s fuel price and taxes are lower than in the United Kingdom. Surely as a ‘third world’ country one would expect our taxes to be much higher?
