Pretoria – New toll rates on South Africa’s national roads will come into effect on March 1, the South African National Roads Agency (Sanral) announced on Sunday.
Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula approved the 2021 toll tariffs as recommended by Sanral and these were released on February 11, Sanral said in a statement.
“The adjustments are adjusted annually based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) obtained from Statistics South Africa (Stats SA). The percentage of the CPI that was applied to determine the March 1, 2021 tariff adjustment is 5%, ”Sanral spokesperson Vusi Mona mentioned.
“We use the inflation rate as a guide to keep toll rates the same in real terms, which means that there is effectively no increase in the rate from when the initial toll rate was implemented, ”he said.
Discounts offered at specific toll plazas for frequent users as well as for eligible local users were still applicable.
Rebate requests can be made at the various toll station offices across the country.
“Thanks to Sanral, the transport department selectively uses tolls to implement large road infrastructure projects and ensure seamless mobility of vehicles on the national road network. Only 13% of the 22,253 km of the network constitute toll roads.
Toll roads allowed capital to be borrowed to expand road infrastructure as needed, rather than having to wait for funds to become available on an already tight budget. Toll funds were used for the maintenance, operation and improvement of toll roads as well as to service the debt incurred for the implementation of a toll road project.
“The cost of delayed maintenance on the roads can be up to 18 times higher than it would have been if routine preventive maintenance had been undertaken. Tolls are the responsibility of the user and are paid only by those who use the road. “
Details on applicable tariffs are available in the Government Gazette, Volume 668, Number 44146, published Thursday, February 11, Mona said.
African News Agency (ANA)
