South Africa hikes toll fees

The South African National Roads Agency (Sanral) has announced an increase in toll tariffs across the country's major routes, effective from 1 March 2025. The toll fees will rise by 4.84%, marking a smaller adjustment compared to last year's 6.25% increase.

For standard light vehicles, this means the toll fees on the N1 'Platinum Route' will range from R7.20 to R108, while motorists using the busy N3 route will now pay between R20 and R347, depending on the section traveled.

Sanral's General Manager for Communications and Marketing, Vusi Mona, emphasized the importance of toll revenue in maintaining and upgrading the national road network. "The funds go a long way towards ensuring that Sanral fulfills its mandate of delivering quality road infrastructure that adds value to the lives of South African citizens," said Mona.

Mona highlighted that the revenue supports the ongoing maintenance, operation, and improvement of toll roads and is also used to service debts incurred during toll road projects.

"Key economic infrastructure, such as the national road network, is a precondition for providing basic services like electricity, water, sanitation, telecommunications, and public transport," he explained. "This road network must meet the needs of industrial, commercial, and household activities across the country."

Acknowledging the tough economic conditions faced by South Africans, Mona assured the public that Sanral remains empathetic to their challenges. However, he stressed the necessity of the tariff adjustments to ensure the agency continues delivering safe and high-quality roads for all users.

With these adjustments, Sanral aims to strike a balance between supporting road users and sustaining the quality of South Africa's critical road infrastructure, which serves as a backbone for the economy and daily life.