South African diesel motorists are facing a painful start to August after the Department of Petroleum and Mineral Resources (DMPR) confirmed steep fuel price increases that will take effect from Wednesday, 5 August. Diesel users, however, received no comparable relief and will absorb almost the full impact of higher global oil prices. Diesel powers much of South Africa’s freight transport network, commercial agriculture, mining operations and industrial machinery. What determines South Africa’s fuel prices? South Africa’s monthly fuel prices are primarily determined by two factors:The international price of petroleum products, driven largely by global crude oil prices.