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On Wednesday morning petrol prices will increase by just 4.9c per litre to R15.49 at the coast and R16.08 inland. 

This after the department of energy intervened to avoid the drastic 23c to 25c per litre fuel increase anticipated by the Automobile Association (AA) of South Africa. 

See also: South Africans now spend more on fuel than on new cars – for the first time since 2014

The department of energy said it stepped in after South Africans had witnessed "sustained increases in fuel prices for the past few months, which placed a strain on the consumers".

"Despite the fact that these increases were caused mainly by international factors, the department has decided to intervene temporarily for this month,” it said in a statement on Monday. 

However, it warned that it is a “once off temporary intervention to provide some relief to motorists and consumers against fuel price hikes.” 

Here’s how South Africa’s petrol prices in September and fuel levy increased the past 10 years, based on official figures released by the department of energy: