Motorists expected to pay more for toll fees from March

Monday, February 16, 2009

Pretoria - Motorists travelling on all national toll routes in South Africa will be paying more from 1 March, following adjustments made to tariffs by the South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL).

According to the toll tariff adjustments for 2009, which were published in the Government Gazette on Friday, motorists will now pay R304.40 for a return trip form Pretoria to Musina, Limpopo along the N1.

Drivers of heavy-duty vehicles will pay R151 at Huguenot, R136 at Verkeerdevlei, Vaal R116, Grasmere Mainline R48 00, Pumulani R25, Carousel R113, Kranskop R108, Nyl Plaza, R101, Capricorn R108 and R117 at the Baobab Plaza.

Drivers of light vehicles along the N2 will pay R13 at Tsitsikama, R17 at Oribi, R6.50 at Tongaat, R8 at Mvoti, and R27 at Mtunzini.

On the same route, drivers of heavy-duty vehicles will pay R111 at Tsitsikama, R68 at Oribi, R26 at Tongaat, R40 at Mvoti and R83 at Mtunzini.

Motorists of light vehicles using the N4 will pay R3.50 at Pelindaba, R2.50 at Quagga, R61 at Swartruggens, R13 at Marikana, R9 at Brits, R9 at Doornpoort, R22 at Diamond Hill, R37 at Middelburg, R55 at Machado and R42 at Nkomazi.

Drivers of heavy-duty vehicles will pay R12 at Pelindaba, R9 at Quagga, R219 at Swartruggens, R42 at Marikana, R39 at Brits, R31 at Doornpoort, R96 at Diamond Hill, R159 at Middelburg, R317 at Machado and R176 at Nkomazi.

Motorists driving light vehicles will pay R7 at Gosforth and R6.50 at Dalpark, while drivers of heavy-duty vehicles will pay R29 and R25 at Dalpark.

Drivers of light vehicles travelling from Johannesburg to Durban using the N3 will pay R29 at De Hoek, R41 at Wilge, R43 at Tugela, R13 at Bergville, and R7 at the Mariannhill toll plaza, while drivers of heavy-duty vehicles will pay, R100, R132, R156, R43 and R24, respectively.

According to the SANRAL, the tariffs were adjusted in accordance with the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

SANRAL Chief Executive Officer Nazir Alli said South Africa's road network remains the backbone of the country's economy and that they had to continue to develop and maintain it.

"We must continually develop and maintain this network to ensure that people can arrive at their destinations safely and that goods flow through the economy efficiently.

He said toll financing enables government to add capacity (new highways or additional lanes) that cannot otherwise be funded under current and projected allocations from the fiscus.

"The 'user pays' principle ensures that we continue to grow infrastructure without diverting budget resources from vital sectors," the CEO said.

Income from the tax base, he said, is therefore able to meet other prioritised sectors within the broader South African context.