Rising fuel costs are deepening South Africa's cost-of-living crisis, with taxi commuters feeling the pressure.

Fuel prices have spiked since the US and Israel's war on Iran began in February 2026, with the price of 93 unleaded petrol increasing by R6.53 a litre, despite the government's move to cut R3 from the fuel levy.

Taxi associations have passed on at least part of the increases to customers, meaning that the 15 million people who travel on taxis daily are using even more of their budget to cover transport costs. According to a 2025 report, the low-income residents in Gauteng's metros were already spending an average of 29% of their incomes on transport.

In response to the fuel price increases, the South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) said local taxi fares would increase by between R2 and R6. Long-distance routes could rise by R10 to R30, depending on the route and operating costs.

For context - Fuel and fertiliser costs drive up the price of a basic food basket May 4, 2026 Taxi associations argue that the increases are unavoidable. According to Santaco, fare adjustments are driven not only by fuel price hikes, but also by rising vehicle maintenance costs and administrative expenses. The organisation says fares are calculated in line with...