Toll hike grief for motorists
Increased toll tariffs for motorists from Saturday.
ZULULAND motorists will now have to fork out R114 in toll fees for a return trip from Richards Bay to Durban.
This comes as the South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL) announced increased toll tariffs this week, effective from Saturday.
The annual toll tariffs on national roads were adjusted in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and approved by the Minister of Transport.
Local motorists driving light vehicles can expect to pay R37.00 at the mainline Mtunzini toll, R11.00 at Mvoti and R9.00 at oThongathi.
Vice-Chairperson of the SA Road Federation: Zululand Region, Mike Patterson, said motorists were being ‘severely taxed and were not receiving their fair share in return’.
‘We have seen annual toll increases, but not much maintenance on that road,’ Patterson told the Zululand Observer.
‘We do not see regular patrol vehicles and it is not safe at the various bridges. The numbers on the bridges were removed ages ago and have not been replaced. There are no telephones as almost every motorist has a cell phone, but patrol vehicles should at least pass every hour,’ said Patterson.
Doubling
He said the doubling of the toll roll from Mtunzini to the John Ross had also been on the cards for years.
‘This is essential and the volume of traffic on this stretch of road warranted a doubling of the road a long time ago. The impact of the hikes on heavy vehicles is enormous. We expect more from the toll road. Motorists have also been hit with increases in the fuel tax and Road Accident Fund,’ Patterson said.
In a statement, SANRAL said any adjustments to the tariffs were based on the preceding twelve months’ CPI. The average CPI adjustment for SANRAL managed toll tariffs is 6.017%.
There will also be adjustments on the N3 toll road between Johannesburg and Durban and on the N4 highway between the Mozambican border and the Botswana border, as well as on the toll road sections of the N1, N2, N17 and R30.
‘We use the inflation rate as a guide, as we do not want to increase road usage costs beyond what is reasonable,’ said SANRAL CEO Nazir Alli.
