Apart from an increase in fuel prices, South African motorists are set to pay more for toll fees after Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula approved the 2021 toll tariffs announced by South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL) earlier this week.
After initially saying the increase will be 5%, Sanral back-pedaled in saying the new adjusted price hike of 3,39% will take effect on 1 March 2021.
SANRAL’s general manager for communications, Vusi Mona, said in a statement that the toll tariff amounts are adjusted by the annual Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation rate only as a guide. According to him it remains the same in real terms and are effectively not increased above the base date toll tariff from when the toll was initially implemented. SANRAL also softened the blow by still allowing discounts at specific toll plazas for frequent users, as well as qualifying local users. Applications for the discounts can be made at the various toll plaza offices nationwide.
“Toll roads allow for the borrowing of capital to develop road infrastructure when it is required, rather than having to wait until funds are available from an already strained fiscus,” Mona said in the statement. “Of the 22,253km road network in South Africa, 13% constitutes toll roads and toll monies are applied to maintain, operate and improve toll roads, as well as to service the debt incurred to implement a toll road project.”
To illustrate the effect of the price hike, let’s take a look at two popular routes:
Toll Plaza for N1 Cape Town – Joburg route | Cost for 2021 | Cost for 2020 | Extra | Total increase |
Grasmere | R21.50 | R21.00 | R0.50 | 2.4% |
Vaal | R71.50 | R69.50 | R2.00 | 2.9% |
Verkeerdevlei | R61.50 | R59.50 | R2.00 | 3.4% |
Huguenot | R42.50 | R41.50 | R1.00 | 2.4% |
Total | R197.00 | R191.50 | R5.50 | 2.9% |
Source: SANRAL
Toll Plaza for N3 Joburg – Durban route | Cost for 2021 | Cost for 2020 | Extra | Total increase |
De Hoek | R53.00 | R51.00 | R2.00 | 3.9% |
Wilge | R73.00 | R71.00 | R2.00 | 2.8% |
Tugela | R78.00 | R76.00 | R2.00 | 2.6% |
Mooi River | R55.00 | R53.00 | R2.00 | 3.8% |
Mariannhill | R13.00 | R12.50 | R0.50 | 4.0% |
Total | R272.00 | R263.50 | R8.50 | 3.2% |
Source: SANRAL
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