By Rorisang Modiba
- The driver says owners pay taxi drivers 25% of daily takings, around R13,000 a month, but he carries his own fuel costs.
- Mid-month CEF data shows petrol could fall by over R1 a litre in July, but full fuel levies are also set to return.
A Mpumalanga taxi driver earns R13,000 a month. After diesel, he has R3,800 left.
The driver, who asked not to be named, says he pays R2,300 a week to keep his taxi running. Over a month, that comes to R9,200 — and every cent of it comes out of his own pocket.
Taxi drivers in his operation earn 25% of the daily takings from their route. The minimum a driver should bring home is R1,000 a day. Before fuel prices started climbing, that left him with something small after expenses. Not much, but enough.
“Before the fuel increased, after all the expenses I used to have small petty change for me,” he said.
“So now I sometimes have to dig in my pockets to cover some expenses.”
He has started cutting back on things he used to buy without thinking. He did not list them. He said only that keeping the tank full now comes before everything else.
“I spend more money on diesel than on my needs and wants,” he said.
There may be some relief coming. Mid-month data from the Central Energy Fund shows petrol could fall by just over R1 a litre in July 2026, with diesel set for a larger drop.
But analysts warn the full fuel levy and related taxes are also returning in July, which will limit how much drivers actually save at the pump.
Prices are also still well above where they were before the conflict involving the United States, Iran and Israel pushed global oil costs higher earlier this year. Energy experts say markets remain unpredictable while tensions in the Middle East continue.
The driver says he is hoping July brings real relief. Not just a smaller number on the pump, but enough of a drop to stop the monthly calculation from feeling like a losing fight.
“I’ll be able to work without stressing about fuel,” he said,
“and things will get back to normal.”
Pictured above: A minibus taxi parked on the street.
Image source: Pexels
