By Dylan Bettencourt
- Sanral’s latest toll fee hikes kick in from 1 March with increases of 4.84% across major routes.
- Motorists are already battling rising fuel costs with another petrol price increase expected in March.
From 1 March, South African road users will have to dig deeper into their pockets as the South African National Roads Agency (Sanral) toll fee hikes kick in.
Toll fees will increase by 4.84%, meaning a drive along the N1 “Platinum Route” in a light vehicle will now cost between R7.20 and R108.
The ever-busy N3 route between Johannesburg and Durban will see prices range from R20 to R347. The increase is lower than last year’s 6.25% adjustment.
Sanral’s General Manager for Communications and Marketing, Vusi Mona, defended the hikes, saying the funds are crucial to maintaining and upgrading the country’s toll roads.
“The funds go a long way towards ensuring that Sanral fulfils its mandate of delivering quality road infrastructure that adds value to the lives of South African citizens,” he said.
Mona said he knew it was a tough economic climate but insisted the adjustments are necessary to make sure road users continue to benefit from safe and well-maintained roads.
He also spoke about the role of the national road network in supporting essential services like electricity, water, and public transport.
The hikes come at a time when motorists are already battling with rising fuel costs. Petrol prices have been climbing for four months straight, and early signs suggest another increase is on the way in March.
For those planning road trips, BusinessTech calculated the cost of travelling to major destinations, factoring in both tolls and fuel.
A trip from Johannesburg to Durban will now set you back around R1,158 in a Toyota Hilux, while a Johannesburg to Cape Town journey will cost roughly R2,267.
Pictured above: A toll gate.
Image source: Arrive Alive
