NATIONAL NEWS - The South African National Roads Agency (Sanral) this morning announced that the resumption of toll fees at the oThongathi and Mvoti toll plazas from today has been postponed.
The decision comes after yesterday’s meeting between Sanral and provincial and local government leaders to discuss the matter.
The postponement will be in place until further notice and it is understood that further meetings will be held on the issue.
Sanral previously announced that motorists will once again have to start paying toll fees at the oThongathi and Mvoti toll plazas from the beginning of this month.
The agency suspended toll fees last April to ease the economic burden on communities impacted by the devastating floods that swept through KZN and the subsequent road closures.
However, after the announcement that toll fees will be reinstated, KwaDukuza Mayor Lindile Nhaca wrote to Sanral to request that consideration be given toward waiving toll fees at Mvoti until the R102 and R103 have been fully repaired.
Vice chairperson of the LaMercy Civic and Ratepayers Association Tashya Giyapersad previously told the North Coast Courier they would be writing to the minister to voice their concerns about the reinstatement of toll fees.
“The bridge in La Mercy was not properly repaired and it was done as a temporary measure. If they start collecting toll fees, this will mean more traffic flowing on the M4, on the bridge that is already a safety hazard. Why don’t they finish all the bridges that need to be repaired and then open the tolls?” Giyapersad asked at the time.
