South Africa’s temporary fuel levy relief has been extended for another month, as government moves to shield consumers from persistently high fuel prices.

In a joint statement on Tuesday, National Treasury and the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources confirmed that the R3 per litre reduction in the general fuel levy will remain in place until 2 June 2026.

The relief, introduced on 1 April, was aimed at easing pressure on households after global oil prices surged due to the ongoing Middle East conflict. Since then, continued volatility has kept domestic fuel prices elevated.

For May, the relief on petrol will stay at R3 per litre, maintaining the general fuel levy at R1.10 per litre.

Diesel users will benefit from additional support, with the levy effectively reduced to zero after a further 93 cents per litre cut, bringing total relief to R3.93 per litre from 6 May to 2 June.

A phased withdrawal is planned for June. From 3 June to 30 June, relief will be reduced to R1.50 per litre for petrol and R1.96 per litre for diesel.

The levy is set to return to its full rates of R4.10 per litre for petrol and R3.93 per litre for diesel from 1 July 2026.

Government estimates the cost of the relief between April and June at R17.2 billion in foregone revenue, but maintains the measure is revenue-neutral, funded through higher-than-expected tax collections and underspending elsewhere.

While supporting the extension, the DA said it would oppose any move to fund the relief through higher taxes or increased debt. Instead, he called on government to tap into surplus funds held by underperforming state entities.

According to the DA, institutions such as the Compensation Fund routinely retain billions in annual surpluses despite poor audit outcomes, with approval from Treasury. The party argues that reclaiming these funds would provide a fiscally responsible way to sustain relief.

Grassy Park police have registered a robbery with a firearm case for investigation following an incident on Saturday night, 25 April, in which an e-hailing driver was robbed of his personal belongings. A video of the incident has since gone viral.

According to police, the driver responded to a pick-up request in Pers Road, Parkwood. When he arrived at the address, two men got into the vehicle.

After driving for a while, one of the suspects, sitting in the backseat, takes out a firearm, pointing it at the driver’s back and neck.

The other suspect, seated in the front passenger seat, then proceeds to rob the driver, who stays calm throughout the ordeal, pleading with the suspect not to shoot him.

The suspects then fled the scene. According to some reports, the two suspects are known to the community.

Police confirmed on Tuesday afternoon that two suspects, aged 20 and 28, were arrested for the robbery and will appear in the Wynberg Magistrates Court once they have been charged.

Smile FM has blurred the faces of the suspects, as under South African law, it is illegal to publish photos or identifying information of suspects before they have been formally charged and appeared in court.

The City of Cape Town says the Athlone Library has reopened and been upgraded, after it was shut down for two weeks due to ongoing burglaries.

The City says during this time, several changes were made.

Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health Francine Higham says the library sustained severe damage to its roof while network and electrical cables, as well as water pipes, were stolen, leaving several plugs faulty and a minor water leak.

“The reopening of Athlone Library is good news for the community and the many patrons, young and old, who make use of it. I want to thank our patrons for their patience during the closure. We ask residents to work with us to protect these facilities and report anything suspicious. Only by working together can we stop the destruction of the public spaces that belong to all of us,” she added.

Higham says during the two-week break, several changes were made to improve the overall user experience, specifically for the SmartCape offering.

“Stronger Wi-Fi was installed, while the library’s SmartCape computers were distributed for availability in both the children’s and adult areas. The children’s team also took the Digital Reading Den programme into the community. This programme focuses on helping to combat illiteracy in schools and local communities.”

The City has since urged the community to help it safeguard public facilities, stressing that criminal acts should be reported to the relevant authorities.

“The City strongly condemns the acts of burglary and vandalism targeting public facilities. These crimes not only damage infrastructure but also directly impact residents by disrupting access to essential services, safe community spaces, and opportunities for learning and development.”