Border Shake-Up: South Africa Set to Introduce Toll Fees on Vehicles Entering via Beitbridge Border Post
Motorists using the busy Beitbridge border post may soon be paying toll fees on both sides of the crossing.
South Africa has published a proposal to start collecting charges from vehicles entering its side of the border, a shift that could change long-standing arrangements at the regional gateway.
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How Things Work Now
At present, only Zimbabwe collects toll fees, with motorists paying when entering or leaving through its side of the border.
South Africa has not been levying any charges, but the new system would see each country collecting fees independently — Zimbabwe on its side, and South Africa on its side.
Linked to Past Concessions
This development ties back to agreements made in 2014, when Zimbabwe assumed ownership of the New Limpopo Bridge (NLB).
The bridge, first built in 1994 under a 20-year Build-Operate-Transfer arrangement with a private company, was handed over in a high-profile ceremony attended by then-transport ministers Obert Mpofu of Zimbabwe and Dipuo Peters of South Africa.
Minister Issues Notice
South Africa’s Transport Minister, Barbara Creecy, confirmed the plan through a notice published in the Government Gazette on August 15.
In it, she invited public submissions up until September 19, after which the toll order could be enforced.
What the Proposal Covers
If approved, the toll road will stretch for 1.1 kilometres from the entrance to the Beitbridge Border Post to the actual international line with Zimbabwe.
The declared toll area includes the roads, parking spaces, and infrastructure buildings within the Musina Municipal District of Limpopo Province.
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The post Border Shake-Up: South Africa Set to Introduce Toll Fees on Vehicles Entering via Beitbridge Border Post appeared first on iHarare News.
