Toll Roads in South Africa: A Comprehensive Guide for 2025

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.”

The revenue generated from toll fees is allocated to:

• Regular maintenance and resurfacing of roads
• Construction of new roadways and expansion of existing ones
• Installation and upkeep of road signage and safety features
• Management of drainage systems and vegetation control
• Emergency response and accident clearance

By funding these activities through toll fees, SANRAL ensures that the road network remains safe and efficient for all users.

Photo Source: Getty

Major Toll Gates in South Africa

South Africa’s toll roads span several key national routes. Below is an overview of major toll plazas along these routes:

N1: Cape Town to Limpopo

• Huguenot Toll Plaza – Near Paarl, Western Cape
• Verkeerdevlei Toll Plaza – Free State
• Vaal Toll Plaza – Gauteng
• Grasmere Toll Plaza – Gauteng
• Pumulani Toll Plaza – Gauteng
• Carousel Toll Plaza – Gauteng
• Kranskop Toll Plaza – Limpopo
• Nyl Toll Plaza – Limpopo
• Capricorn Toll Plaza – Limpopo
• Baobab Toll Plaza – Limpopo

N2: Cape Town to Durban

• Tsitsikamma Toll Plaza – Eastern Cape
• Oribi Toll Plaza – KwaZulu-Natal
• oThongathi Toll Plaza – KwaZulu-Natal
• Mvoti Toll Plaza – KwaZulu-Natal
• Mtunzini Toll Plaza – KwaZulu-Natal

N3: Johannesburg to Durban

• De Hoek Toll Plaza – Gauteng
• Wilge Toll Plaza – Free State
• Tugela Toll Plaza – KwaZulu-Natal
• Mooi River Toll Plaza – KwaZulu-Natal
• Mariannhill Toll Plaza – KwaZulu-Natal

N4: Pretoria to Maputo

• Swartruggens Toll Plaza – North West
• Marikana Toll Plaza – North West
• Diamond Hill Toll Plaza – Gauteng
• Middelburg Toll Plaza – Mpumalanga
• Machado Toll Plaza – Mpumalanga
• Nkomazi Toll Plaza – Mpumalanga

These toll plazas are strategically located to manage traffic flow and generate funds for road maintenance and development.

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.

Payment Methods for Toll Roads

South Africa offers various payment options for toll fees:

• Cash: Accepted at all toll plazas.
• Credit Cards: MasterCard and Visa cards are accepted for Class 1 vehicles.
• Fleet and Garage Cards: Issued by South African banks, these are accepted for Class 1 vehicles.
• Zimele Toll Debit Card: Specifically for Class 2 to 4 vehicles.
• Contactless Payments: As of December 1, 2024, major toll routes like the N3 and N4 have adopted contactless payment methods, including tap-enabled cards and smart devices.

Note: Diners Club, American Express, and most international debit cards are not accepted.

Transition to Contactless Payments

In an effort to enhance security and streamline transactions, South Africa began phasing out traditional magnetic stripe (swipe) card payments at toll plazas starting December 1, 2024. The transition focuses on adopting contactless payment methods, including:

• Tap-enabled debit or credit cards (Europay, MasterCard, Visa)
• Payment apps like Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, and Google Pay
• Wearable devices such as Garmin, Fitbit, Samsung, and Apple watches

This modernization aligns with global payment trends, prioritising efficiency and security. Cash and SANRAL tags remain valid payment methods during the transition period.

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 across 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 at the top of the page to compare prices and models, and we’ll do the rest.

Note: This guide is based on information available as of May 2025. For the latest updates, always refer to official sources.