May Taxi Hikes Spark Fears of New Increases After 3 June Fuel Price Jump

Commuters are bracing for another taxi fare hike after fuel prices were adjusted on 3 June 2026, just weeks after taxi ranks raised prices in May.

Taxi fares went up across Gauteng last month due to earlier fuel pressure:

Bree Taxi Rank to Rockville: increased from R17 to R21 in May

Wanderers/Bree Taxi Rank to Westdene: R17 to R19

Bree Taxi Rank to Snawana: R23 to R26

MTN Taxi Rank to Tembisa: R29 to R32

Krugersdorp to Jozi: R26 to R28

Bree to West Rand: R24 to R27

Now, with petrol up again on 3 June, operators warn the May increases may not hold. A taxi driver from Bree Taxi rank said

“We changed prices in May because diesel was already high. Now petrol is up R1.43 more. If the war continues in the Middle East and prices keep on going up, we may also consider increasing the prices again.\"

Fuel adjustments effective 3 June 2026

Petrol 93/95: increased by R1.43 per litre, from R26.52 to R27.96

Diesel: rose to R28.76 per litre

Illuminating paraffin: decreased by R5.00 per litre

LP Gas: reduced by 17 cents per kilogram countrywide, and 20 cents per kilogram in the Saldanha area

The Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources said the average Brent Crude oil price rose from 101 USD to 104.59 USD. The main reason: continued tension between the US and Israel and Iran, plus the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which handles roughly 20% of global oil trade.

Community fears another hike, commuters say they cannot absorb another increase.

“They raised it in may. Now fuel is up again on the 3rd. If the war doesn’t stop, next month we’ll pay R25 to Rockville,”

said Thabang at Wanderers Taxi Rank.

Households are caught between relief and pressure. Paraffin dropped R5 and LP Gas is down 17c per kilogram, helping families who cook with gas or paraffin stoves.

“Paraffin is cheaper, but I need R64 to get to work and back from Tembisa. I was paying R58 in April,”

- Katlego Sithole

said Katlego Sithole who is a security guard at in Johannesburg CBD.

Economists warn the conflict could push inflation up and raise food prices.

Agriculture is entering winter crop planting and harvesting, both high-fuel-use periods.

Higher oil prices raise input costs that get passed to consumers.

With local elections set for 4 November 2026, ward services, clinics, and schools all depend on affordable taxis. The May increases plus the 3 June fuel adjustment have commuters watching global headlines.

“They fight over there, we suffer here. If Hormuz stays closed, we’ll pay R35 to Tembisa by August,”

said Hlubi, a queue marshal at Wanderers.

Fuel prices are reviewed monthly based on international and local factors.