The retail price of petrol in South Africa will rise by 3.4 percent from May 2, while the price of wholesale diesel will rise by 4.6 percent, the energy department said on Thursday.

The price of petrol will rise by 49 cents to 14.97 rand per litre in the commercial hub of Gauteng province, while diesel will go up by as much 59 cents to 13.34 rand.

The Central Energy Fund said in a statement that the depreciation of the rand against the dollar in past month as well as a higher oil price globally had contributed to the rise in local fuel prices.

- Reuters