Tolls rise in Maputo South Africa motorway

Tolls at the two toll-gates on the Mozambique side of the Maputo-South Africa motorway go up from 1 April.

The hikes range from eight to 28 per cent, and have been instituted by the Trans-Africa Concessions (TRAC) the company that operates the motorway.

At the Maputo toll-gate, the cost for light vehicles and motorcycles rises from 20 to 25 meticais, and for heavy trucks with five or more axles from 200 to 250 meticais. Both represent a 25 per cent increase.

At the second toll-gate in the Moamba district tolls for light vehicles go from 125 to 135 meticais, (8 per cent increase) and for heavy trucks from 780 meticais to 1,000 (a 28 per cent increase).

All registered public buses and "chapa" minibus-taxis will receive a 40 per cent discount, amounting to a price of 15 meticais.

Tolls are reviewed each year and rises are often justified by changes in exchange rates. However the new increases are far ahead of Mozambique’s inflation rate and are seen by many as a tax on those living and working in Moamba.

In addition many commuters complain that TRAC does not maintain the Mozambican stretch of motorway to the same standards as the section over the border in South Africa.

The last time the tolls went up was on 1 March 2012.