JOHANNESBURG - The expected increases in fuel prices on April Fool's Day are no joke.
Petrol prices are regulated in South Africa and change on the first Wednesday of each month.
The latest projections from data supplied by the central energy fund suggest petrol will rise by between R5.17 and R5.72 per litre, depending on the grade.
That means an extra R300 for a 60-litre fuel tank.
The underrecovery based on current oil prices and the Rand exchange rate is even higher for diesel, suggesting hikes of above R9.50.
Diesel is not regulated in South Africa and some outlets have already hiked their prices.
The fuel price shock next week could be among the most severe South Africa has seen, with inflationary ripple effects across the economy as transport costs rise.