Increases apply to highway toll plazas, and not to the proposed Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project, or disputed urban e-toll routes.

Sanral said the hikes are an annual adjustment on national toll routes, in accordance with the consumer price index.

Sanral CEO Nazir Alli said, "Funding for the national road network is decided in the context of all demands on the fiscus. Given this challenge on the fiscus and the fact that South Africa’s road infrastructure requires substantial and urgent investment, Sanral relies on the user-pay principle to maintain a high quality road network, while contributing to improved road safety and generally shorter travelling distances.

"This also results in substantial savings on vehicle running costs. The toll principle also allows us to preserve and provide infrastructure sooner than traditional tax-based revenues would allow,” said Alli.

Road users in specific local areas in the vicinity of toll plazas, and frequent users of specific plazas, could ask for discounts.

The new tariffs vary among toll routes. The N4 through Machadodorp will charge R67 for light vehicles and R186 for heavy vehicles. Vehicles catergorised as Class 3 and Class 4 pay R271 and R387 respectively.

De Hoek Mainline Plaza will charge light vehicles R36, and R56 for heavy vehicles. Vehicles in Class 3 and 4 will pay R85 and R122 respectively.