Toll Roads in South Africa

South Africa has thousands of kilometres of excellent roadway, but this often comes at a cost. More specifically, drivers are required to pay toll fees at numerous points around the country. These fees ensure that the relevant authorities can maintain, improve, and protect these roads, making driving safer and more pleasant for everybody.

We’ve put together a quick guide to toll roads in South Africa, including major locations, payment methods, and more. Read on to get to know our toll roads better.

Photo Source: Getty

Why Do You Need to Pay Toll Road Fees in South Africa?

Municipalities and the South African National Road Agency (SANRAL) use toll fees as a continuous revenue stream, ensuring that there are always funds available for maintenance and upgrades of roadways. However, if you’ve spent any amount of time on South African roads, you’ll know that many roads maintained by local municipalities are massively neglected. For the most part, you can see the fruits of toll fees on national freeways like the N1, N2, N3, and so on.

These major roads experience huge amounts of traffic on a daily basis. Over time, this leads to degradation and other forms of wear and tear. Furthermore, natural disasters like floods and strong winds can wreak havoc. Toll fees keep these roads safe and well-marked.

“[Toll fee revenue] enables SANRAL to provide roads sooner than the traditional tax‐based revenues which would traditionally fund these roads,” the organisation says. “In addition to contributing to improved road safety, toll roads generally reduce travelling distances and result in substantial savings on the running costs of your vehicle and much valued travel time.”

Here are a few examples of what Sanral spends toll fees on:

• The effective drainage of rainwater
• The sealing of cracks and potholes
• The cutting of grass on either side of the road or on islands in the middle of the road
• The maintenance and addition of signage on the road
• The cleaning of debris caused by unfortunate road accidents
• The resurfacing of the road on a regular basis
• The adding of additional lanes where required

Photo Source: Getty

Major Toll Gates in South Africa

Here’s a list of the major toll gate plazas along South Africa’s national freeways, including Google Maps locations.

Toll Gates on the N1 (South to North)

Western Cape

Huguenot Toll Plaza

Free State

Verkeedevlei Toll Plaza

Gauteng

Vaal Toll Plaza

Grasmere Plaza

Pumulani Toll Plaza

Carousel Toll Plaza

Limpopo

Kranskop Toll Plaza

Nyl Toll Plaza

Capricorn Toll Plaza

Baobab Toll Plaza

Toll Gates on the N2 (South to North)

Western Cape (Garden Route)

Tsitsikamma Toll Plaza

KwaZulu-Natal

Oribi Toll Plaza

oThongathi Toll Plaza

Mvoti Toll Plaza

Mtunzini Toll Plaza

Toll Gates on the N3 (West to East)

Gauteng

De Hoek Toll Plaza

Free State

Wilge Toll Plaza

KwaZulu-Natal

Tugela Toll Plaza

Mooi River Toll Plaza

Mariannhill Toll Plaza

Toll Gates on the N4 (West to East)

North West

Swartruggens Toll Plaza

Marikana Toll Plaza

Gauteng

Diamond Hill Toll Plaza

Mpumalanga

Middelburg Toll Plaza

Machado Toll Plaza

Nkomazi Toll Plaza

Photo Source: Getty

Paying Toll Fees in South Africa

SANRAL determines toll fees according to the relevant vehicle class and updates these figures on an annual basis. You can find the latest toll fees here. Generally speaking, the larger and heavier the vehicle, the bigger the toll fee. The various classes are as follows:

• Class 1: Light vehicles: Light vehicles are motor vehicles, other than heavy vehicles as defined below, with or without a trailer, and include motorcycles, motor tricycles and motor cars.
• Class 2: Medium heavy vehicles: Medium heavy vehicles are heavy vehicles, as defined above, with two axles.
• Class 3: Large heavy vehicles: Large heavy vehicles are heavy vehicles, as defined above, with three or four axles.
• Class 4: Extra large heavy vehicles: Extra large heavy vehicles are heavy vehicles, as defined above, with five or more axles.

South African Toll Road Payment Methods

You have several options when paying fees at a toll gate, so you never need to have cash on hand:

• Cash (South African Rand)
• MasterCard & Visa Credit Cards (Class 1 only)
• Garage Cards & Petrol Cards issued by South African banks (Class 1 only)
• Fleet Cards issued by South African Fleet Card issuers

Furthermore, Class 2-4 drivers can pay using the Zimele Toll Debit Card. Please note: Diners Club, American Express, and all other international cards are not accepted methods of payment. The same applies to all debit cards.

Do E-Tolls Still Exist?

As of 11 April 2024, e-tolls are no longer active in South Africa. The system was widely criticised by consumers and consumer protection lobby groups, and many South Africans flat-out refused to pay the fees. So, even if you come accross an e-toll gantry along Gauteng’s freeways, they won’t scan your vehicle. However, local authorities will continue to use the cameras for safety and anti-crime purposes.

Photo Source: Getty

There you have it: a quick guide to toll gates and toll fees in South Africa. Equipped with this useful information, you can start planning your next road trip through our spectacular country. If you need to find the right vehicle for your adventure, we have a wide selection of cars, SUVs, and luxury cars available across South Africa and beyond. Simply use our handy vehicle finder tool to compare prices and models, and we’ll do the rest.

You might also like: Our Picks for Family-Friendly Road Trips in South Africa