South African motorists should expect to pay 7 rand (almost one US dollar) a liter for petrol next month, experts warned as world oil prices, aided by the fresh outbreak of violence in the Middle East, hit record highs on Thursday.

"We are definitely going to pay the price for this huge political premium," economist Dawie Roodt said on Thursday, adding that "We can expect to pay anything between 20c and 40c more because of this."

Light sweet crude oil hit 75.89 dollars a barrel, surpassing the previous high of 75.78 dollars, while Brent North Sea crude peaked at 75.45 dollars a barrel.

The economist said that South African consumers were being hit with a double whammy because the rand was trading weaker against the United States dollar at 7.20 rand.

Gary Ronald, spokesperson for the Automobile Association, said even before the latest oil price increase was taken into account, South African motorists were expecting the price of petrol to rise at the end of the month.

"By this time next month we will be paying about 7 rand a liter for petrol. If this increase in the price of oil continues, we can expect to pay even more," he said.

Ina Wilken, spokesperson for the South African National Consumer Union, said the petrol price increase would have a devastating effect on the ordinary person.

"It will have a knock-on effect on basic foodstuff, meaning that people will have to pay more while their income or lack of it remains the same," he added.

Source: Xinhua