Deloitte Africa, Refuel partner to help businesses claim diesel rebates 

Deloitte Africa, one of Africa’s leading professional services firm and technology-led energy company Refuel have partnered to help businesses improve how they claim diesel rebates through the South African Revenue Service (Sars) diesel refund system. 

The partnership is aimed at companies in sectors such as mining, agriculture, forestry and fisheries, where diesel costs can represent a significant part of operating expenses. 

The two companies said in a statement Tuesday that the collaboration will combine fuel-management technology with tax expertise, giving businesses a more reliable way to capture and report the information needed to support rebate claims. 

Diesel rebates, which can amount to R3.82 ($0.23) or more per litre, have long provided an important source of working capital for heavy-industry businesses. But many companies still depend on manual logbooks and disconnected reporting systems, making it harder to prove that fuel was used for activities that qualify for a refund. 

“Many businesses continue to rely on manual logbooks and fragmented reporting. This means claims are rejected because they don’t have the correct data,” the companies said. “In the process, companies risk being charged penalties for non-compliance.”  

Connecting fuel data with tax claims 

Deloitte Africa and Refuel said fuel-management systems and tax compliance processes have traditionally operated separately. Their new partnership is designed to close that gap by capturing operational fuel data in a format that tax teams can use to substantiate claims. 

The approach is also intended to reduce the administrative burden created by manual records as Sars moves toward wider use of digital reporting. 

“Intended to streamline validations and improve transparency, the move provides an opportunity for businesses to digitise their systems and move away from manual logbooks,” said Refuel CEO Ricky Luntz. “They stand to get their claims paid out faster if they provide data Sars can trust.”

Tracking how diesel is used 

Deloitte Africa’s DESMAT software manages compliance information, including contracting and mining rights, while Refuel’s fuel-management technology feeds operational data into the rebate process. 

A key part of the system is its ability to track fuel use beyond the point where diesel is dispensed. Refuel’s hardware and software monitor fuel levels and machine run hours during individual activity sessions. 

That gives businesses a clearer picture of how diesel is being used and helps separate fuel consumed for rebate-eligible activities from fuel used for other tasks. 

The information can then be integrated into Deloitte Africa’s platform to support claims that meet Sars’ reporting requirements. 

“Improved data integrity and real-time processing not only reduce exposure to errors and penalties, but also enhance audit readiness,” said Olebogeng Ramatlhodi, Deloitte Africa’s indirect tax leader. 

The companies said the technology could also help businesses identify fuel theft and waste, adding another layer of control over fuel costs. 

Deloitte expands African professional network 

Deloitte Africa has almost 7,000 professionals across East, West and Southern Africa, with offices in 12 African countries and a presence in 17. Its services include audit, consulting, financial advisory, risk management and tax. 

In March 2025, Deloitte Africa also expanded its work with the Tony Elumelu Foundation, committing additional mentors and technical expertise to support the foundation’s goal of empowering 250,000 African entrepreneurs by 2030.

For businesses that depend heavily on diesel, the Deloitte Africa and Refuel partnership highlights the growing role of technology in tax compliance. By linking fuel consumption data with tax reporting, companies could have a more reliable way to document eligible diesel use, strengthen claims and manage fuel costs