Godongwana announces temporary fuel levy cuts and billions for GBVF response

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana has announced temporary fuel levy reductions and additional funding to tackle gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF), crime and corruption as part of the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement.

The fuel levy reductions will take effect from 4 November 2026, providing motorists with temporary relief from rising fuel costs.

The diesel levy will be reduced by R3 per litre and the petrol levy by R1.50 per litre until 1 December 2026.

From then, the relief will be reduced, with the diesel levy cut by R1.50 per litre and the petrol levy by R1 per litre until 5 January 2027.

The measures will provide R10 billion in support, at a fiscal cost of R10 billion in foregone revenue.

To fund the intervention, the R10 billion previously transferred to the Central Energy Fund will be returned to the National Revenue Fund and placed in the Contingency Reserve.

Government says the intervention is intended to ease cost-of-living pressures without compromising the sustainability of the budget.

R3.8 billion for social workers

Government has allocated R3.8 billion to employ more than 3,500 social workers to strengthen the prevention of and response to gender-based violence, particularly amid rising murders and attacks against women.

A further R186 million has been allocated to strengthen forensic and investigative capacity.

The government also plans to expand the number of sexual offences courts from 55 to 101 and increase the number of Thuthuzela Care Centres, which provide support to rape survivors, from 72 to 80 by the 2028/29 financial year.

An additional R157.4 million will go to the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities to improve national coordination and oversight of the government's response to GBVF.

Funding to fight crime and corruption

Godongwana said crime and corruption undermine governance, constrain economic growth and divert public funds away from service delivery while increasing the cost of doing business.

The South African Police Service fleet will be recapitalised at a cost of R810 million next year.

Government will also allocate an additional R2.2 billion over the medium term to strengthen the independence of the judiciary.

Meanwhile, South Africa is undergoing the Financial Action Task Force's 18-month mutual evaluation process, which assesses the country's technical compliance with and effectiveness in implementing laws aimed at combating financial crime.

The assessment examines whether laws are effective in practice, including through investigations, prosecutions and asset forfeitures.

Government says it is working towards achieving technical compliance and fully implementing the FATF recommendations, supported by investments in the fight against crime and corruption.

In addition to funding already allocated to the Border Management Authority this year, government will increase the number of labour inspectors.

It is also considering measures to strengthen the capacity of border inspectors and immigration officers to address challenges associated with illegal migration.