The cost of driving freight on South Africa’s roads increases by 32.96 cent per litre on Wednesday 7 August.

Thandiwe Maimane, spokesperson for the Department of Energy says, “The increase is due to the rise in the price of crude oil, which in turn led to the rise in the prices of international petroleum products. The modest appreciation in the Rand/ US dollar exchange could not compensate for the increase in the price of crude oil as a result the impact on the final prices of petroleum products is minimal.”

“Then in line with the Self-Adjusting Slate Levy Mechanism, the Slate Levy on diesel will increase by 10.96c/l, from 6.58 c/l to 17.54 c/l, and will be implemented into the price structures of diesel with effect from 7 August 2013.”

A litre of diesel will cost R12,48 a litre from Wednesday.