S.Africa's petrol price to rise by 3.5 pct next week

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South African petrol pump prices will rise by 3.5 percent next week and diesel prices will increase by 3.6 percent, the government said on Friday.

The department of energy said in a statement the pump prices for 95 grade petrol will rise to 7.92 rand a litre in the main commercial hub of Gauteng province. The wholesale price of diesel will be 7.03 rand in the province.

South Africa is a net importer of oil and adjusts its fuel price each month to account for changes in the rand exchange rate, the international oil price and government levies.