By Boitumelo Marubane

The recent petrol price increase in South Africa continues to place pressure on many young people as the cost of living becomes more expensive. The Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources confirmed a fuel increase of R1,69 per litre for petrol in June 2026, while diesel decreased by R1,55 to R 2,40 per litre. The increase in inflation has affected transport costs, food prices, and other daily expenses faced by ordinary citizens.

Young people who rely on taxis to travel to work, school, and job interviews say the situation is becoming stressful as taxi fares are also expected to increase. Many community members say they are now forced to reduce spending on certain necessities just to afford taxi fees.

Twenty-two-year-old (22) student Letlhogonolo Mokoena explained how difficult the situation has become for young people trying to survive. “When petrol prices increase, everything else also becomes expensive” says Mokena. He said many young people already struggle financially, and transport costs are now too high, forcing some to choose between buying food and saving money for taxi fares.

The fuel increase is also affecting unemployed youth. Many job seekers say travelling to interviews and submitting CVs now requires more money than before. Others believe the government should introduce solutions that will protect ordinary citizens from the continuous rise in fuel prices.

Young people from different communities have also expressed their frustrations on social media platforms, saying the rising cost of living is becoming unbearable for many families across the country.

Tshepo Moloi, a young worker from Johannesburg, said “the petrol increase affects everyone, including people who do not own cars”. He further explained that shops increase food prices, taxi fares rise, and many other costs change after petrol prices increase. According to Moloi, young people suffer the most because many are unemployed and already facing financial difficulties.

Many young South Africans believe that the continuous fuel increases are making life harder for ordinary citizens. They are calling for solutions that will help reduce the pressure faced by struggling communities and unemployed youth.