Cape Town — The South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL) has announced that motorists can expect a price hike of 6.25% in toll fees across the country.
Starting on 1 March 2024, motorists will now have to pay more to use the national roads after SANRAL confirmed the new price fees across the country. The roads confirmed included the N3, Platinum Toll Road, the Huguenot Toll Road, the Tsitsikamma Toll Road, and the N17 Toll Road. SANRAL said the price hikes were in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI), which was still less than the 6.58% increase in 2023, The Citizen reported.
SANRAL spokesperson Vusi Mona said the toll fees are important to maintain, operate and improve toll roads and service the debt fee used to implement toll roads.
“SANRAL is empathetic to the South African public, considering the current state of the economy. However, it is equally important to introduce the adjustments to ensure that the agency continues to deliver safe and quality roads to benefit all road users,” Mona said.
SA motorists will have to pay more to use national roads from next month. The National Roads Agency has announced a 6.25% increase in toll fees which was gazetted earlier this month. SANRAL’s Vusi Mona explains.
Watch: https://t.co/xFOeQB7AYA#Newzroom405 pic.twitter.com/RjdK0015Gx
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) February 13, 2024
Some of the new prices include a R7 to R97 increase on the N1 “Platinum Route” for standard light vehicles, the N3 will see an increase of R20 to R94, while the main line route between Heidelberg and Pietermaritzburg, which used to cost R293 for a standard car, now increases by R18 to R311.
Additional increases include the N1 Hugenot Tunnel in the Western Cape’s toll will increase from R47.50 to R50.50, while the N1 Kranskop will increase from R53.50 to R57 and the N3 Tugela toll price will increase from R88 to R94, eNCA reported.
The new toll fees are applied to four different classes of vehicles, including class one or light vehicles, class two or medium heavy vehicles, class three or large vehicles, and class four or extra large, heavy vehicles.
Gavin Kelly, CEO of the Road Freight Association, said the annual increases was close to CPI or inflation. Kelly added that with the possibility of yet more fuel price increases being forecast, another cycle of constant increases will hit the consumer. IOL reported.
“Whatever the reasoning, the price of transport will increase, as with all increases introduced into the logistics chain. There will be a similar effect on the consumer once the ripple effect through the supply chain has reached the retail outlets. Unfortunately, whether we like it or not, there will be increases in the transport of goods – and passengers,” he said.
““More expensive transport will affect consumer spending behaviour – and there will be far less available funds to cover even the necessary things,” he added.
Follow African Insider on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
Picture: Pixabay
For more African news, visit Africaninsider.com
Compiled by Matthew Petersen
