The Swartruggens Toll Plaza has unfairly be labelled as the most expensive toll gate in the country. In fact, it is – and it isn’t. It is expensive for occasional road users, but cheap for local residents. It is important to take into account the road distance it serves, it is, in fact, reasonable.

This is a perspective on Swartruggens which needs explanation.

Road users only pay for the roads they use and the distance between one toll gate and the next is factored in.

Tolling, an international roads payment system, is based on a “user-pay” principle – and it is fair. Road users only pay for roads they use and the distance between one toll gate and the next is factored in.

There is good news for farmers and other local resident road users in the wider Swartruggens area:

– tolls at the plaza have not been increased
– special discounts are now in place. They are substantial and mean that most locals pay up to 75% less at the plaza than infrequent users.

Application for discounts can be made in two places:

1. In Swartruggens at the Marlotti Guest Lodge, 19 Andries Pretorius Street, on Mondays and Tuesdays
2. In Groot Marico at the BP on Voortrekker Street, on Wednesdays and Fridays.