South Africa set to introduce a new toll plaza

The Department of Transport (DOT) has published a proposal for a new toll plaza in the northern part of the country, inviting public comments until Friday, 19 September 2025.

The proposed toll plaza will be located at the Beitbridge Border Post with Zimbabwe, South Africa’s busiest neighbouring crossing, and SANRAL recommended it under the National Roads Acts.

SA’S NEW TOLL PLAZA

If authorities approve the new toll plaza, BusinessTech reports that a 1.1 km stretch of the N1 near the northern border will become tolled.

SANRAL notes that it added this portion of the N1 to its national road portfolio in 2018. Since then, the agency has carried out a R4-billion refurbishment project at the border post, focusing on improving traffic flow and strengthening security.

Several additional roads, parking areas, and buildings on South Africa’s side of the Beitbridge Border Post also fall under SANRAL’s management.

As a result, thousands of people and trucks traveling north must pass through Limpopo Province and the Musina Municipal District, making it South Africa’s busiest crossing and routing everyone through the new toll plaza.

AFRICA’S ECONOMIC HEARTLAND

The Beitbridge border post mainly serves South African and Zimbabwean travellers. However, it also facilitates trade further afield – with Botswana, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, and other SADC Member States. And according to SADC, improvements along the route have already yielded results.

The upgrades have enhanced traffic flow, eased congestion, and strengthened security. The route now operates 24/7, handling up to 300 trucks daily. Before the improvements, freight companies sometimes waited up to a week to cross the border. With smoother traffic, South Africa now has the potential to gain financially.

NO LONGER ONLY ZIMBABWEAN TOLLS

Currently, SANRAL reports that Zimbabwean authorities collect tolls only on southbound traffic at their side of the border post. The new toll plaza, however, will collect tolls on the South African side within the South African Border Post Area.

“Toll will be collected at a best-suited location, taking into consideration all the border post activities that are currently taking place,” concludes SANRAL.

Earlier this year, tolls fees along the N1 ‘Platinum Highway’ were increased by an inflation-linked 4.8% for all ‘class 1’ passenger vehicles. Tolls now add up to R197 for the entire Limpopo route:

• N1       Stormvoel – R12.00
• N1       Zambesi – R14.00
• N1       N1 Pumulani – R15.50
• N1       Wallmansthal – R7.00  
• N1       Murrayhill – R14.00
• N1       Hammanskraal – R33.00
• N1       Carousel – R71.00
• N1       Maubane – R30.50