Latest news with #SouthAfricanNationalRoadsAgency
The South African
a day ago
- Business
- The South African
New toll plaza coming for one of South Africa's busiest roads
The Department of Transport has published a proposal for the construction of a new toll plaza at the Beitbridge Border Post, South Africa's busiest land border crossing into Zimbabwe. The proposed development, now open for public comment until 19 September 2025, is part of a long-term infrastructure upgrade aimed at improving traffic management and revenue collection on the critical N1 trade corridor. The South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL) recommended the toll plaza in terms of the SANRAL and National Roads Acts, following the 2018 reclassification of portions of the N1 as national roads under its portfolio. The 1.1-kilometre stretch now eligible for tolling lies entirely within the South African side of the Beitbridge International Border Post, located in Limpopo's Musina Municipality. The Beitbridge crossing connects South Africa to Zimbabwe, serving not only the two countries but also acting as a vital transit point for trade with Botswana, Mozambique, Zambia, Malawi, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and other SADC nations. The route supports the movement of thousands of individuals and over 300 freight trucks daily, facilitating billions of rands worth of regional trade. The toll plaza proposal follows a R4 billion upgrade project launched in 2018 to enhance border infrastructure, reduce waiting times, and increase operational efficiency. Before the upgrades, freight operators reported delays of five to seven days at the crossing. Since completion, the post has operated 24/7, with significantly improved traffic flows. Currently, toll fees for southbound traffic are collected by Zimbabwean authorities. Under the new proposal, South Africa would begin collecting tolls on its side of the border. The Department of Transport is now inviting written submissions and public comment on the proposed tolling plan. Interested parties have until 19 September 2025 to make submissions. The development is expected to stir debate, particularly around pricing, efficiency, and the potential economic impact on cross-border trade and travel. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Daily Maverick
12-08-2025
- Business
- Daily Maverick
Billboard battle intensifies as outdoor ad industry accuses Sanral of defying court order
The outdoor advertising industry has hit back at the South African National Roads Agency's accusation that all billboards along the R21 in Ekurhuleni are illegal. The dispute over hundreds of allegedly illegal billboards along the R21 between Joburg and OR Tambo International Airport has escalated. The outdoor advertising industry is now accusing the South African National Roads Agency (Sanral) of disregarding a court case, misleading the public and unfairly tarnishing the reputation of legitimate businesses that contribute significantly to the City of Ekurhuleni's coffers. A recent Daily Maverick exposé revealed Sanral's position that not a single billboard along the freeway is legal – a claim the agency continues to stand by. However, Angelo Tandy, chairperson of Out of Home Media South Africa (OHMSA), the industry's umbrella body, says Sanral has no jurisdiction over the boards since they fall within Ekurhuleni's boundaries. He bases this claim on a recent court case, HMKL 3 Investments (Pty) Ltd v Sanral, in which the North Gauteng High Court found that Sanral's authority did not extend into municipal urban areas governed by their own advertising bylaws. 'The judgment made clear that where municipalities have promulgated advertising bylaws, Sanral's powers fall away,' said Tandy. 'The court found that Sanral's Section 50 regulations do not apply in urban areas with municipal control and Sanral's appeal was never successful.' In that case, HMKL had sought an urgent interdict to stop Sanral from erecting a toll gantry on the N1 that would block visibility of its billboards. Sanral argued that the boards were illegal under the National Roads Act. But the court ruled that since the signs fell within the City of Tshwane's jurisdiction, Sanral had no regulatory power. Yet Ekurhuleni itself, which in July 2025 issued a deadline for the billboard owners to regularise by 4 August, confirmed that most billboards within its boundaries are illegal, including those on private property erected without permission. The City further confirmed that no outdoor media operators had complied with the deadline or the requirements, and the City would proceed with issuing notices to those owners whose billboards remain unregularised. Systemic challenges Beyond jurisdictional disputes, the industry is battling broader systemic challenges, says Tandy. Applications for billboard permits are reportedly stuck in bureaucratic limbo for years, despite clear bylaws meant to streamline the process. 'This contradicts the spirit and letter of outdoor advertising legislation and stymies legitimate business.' Transformation remains another sore point. 'New entrants into the OOH advertising sector face disproportionate barriers, from inefficient public administration to a lack of municipal support,' he said. Some policy proposals, he added, are 'draconian' and threaten to undermine rather than support transformation goals. OHMSA also took aim at the City of Ekurhuleni's recent clampdown on billboards, in particular, a high-profile campaign by the mayoral committee member for development planning and real estate, Nomadlozi Nkosi, who, they claim, 'defaced' three allegedly illegal boards with red stickers in July. 'We are concerned with the process,' said Tandy. 'There was no transparency or fairness. OHMSA was not consulted, despite being a key stakeholder in the sector.' He stressed that proper consultation could have led to a resolution, as has occurred in other metros. 'Instead, OHMSA has been consistently excluded from discussions on tariffs, bylaw amendments and other vital matters.' Nevertheless, OHMSA says it remains open to engagement. 'We are committed to working with government and municipalities to drive transformation in line with national empowerment policies,' Tandy said. 'We want to support SMMEs and build strong, collaborative relationships across the sector.' Other industry players have come on board to argue that court rulings have consistently limited Sanral's reach in urban areas. David Malherbe, an industry representative, is demanding an apology from the roads agency. 'Where a municipality had promulgated regulations in an urban area of control, Sanral does not have authority to regulate. So they must explain why they issue press releases claiming every single sign on the R21 freeway is illegal when they very well know they have no standing over the regulating of such signs. 'Unless they can provide court evidence showing that this judgment was overturned, then their comments may be considered defamatory and damaging to both operators and advertisers and they should apologise,' he said. He added that alleged corruption within the municipality's planning department had further complicated matters. Sanral, City resolute Sanral, however, is standing firm, saying the court case has no bearing on the Sanral Act. It argues that until a Constitutional Court ruling says otherwise, it retains enforcement powers and will act accordingly, including issuing removal notices, seeking interdicts and recovering costs from noncompliant billboard owners, arguing that its authority remains intact. Sanral spokesperson Lwando Mahlasela said: 'There is no high court decision declaring sections 48 or 50 of the Sanral Act unconstitutional or invalid. Until such time, the Act stands and applicants cannot ignore it merely because they hold municipal approval.' Sections 48 and 50 give the agency sweeping powers over infrastructure and advertising related to national roads, prohibiting any unauthorised structures or advertisements visible from these routes, even within urban areas, he added. Sanral maintains that many billboards are structurally unsound, obstruct road signs and endanger motorists. 'They compromise visibility and road safety, and deprive both Sanral and municipalities of rightful revenue,' Mahlasela added. Rent for a high-visibility sign along a national road can reportedly reach R400,000, with Sanral and municipalities expecting a 20% revenue share from advertisers, money which seldom reaches the City's or Sanral's coffers. City of Ekurhuleni spokesperson Zweli Dlamini said the deadline of 4 August given by the mayoral committee member had come and gone and 'as of now, no billboard operators have fully complied with the requirements'. 'The industry is currently in the process of compiling and submitting its renewal applications. Engagements with relevant stakeholders are ongoing,' he added. 'The City will proceed with issuing notices to operators whose billboards remain unregulated. These notices will require the operators to either bring their billboards into compliance or remove them, in line with applicable regulations.' DM
The Citizen
08-08-2025
- Automotive
- The Citizen
N1 closure between Atterbury and Rigel set for Sunday, warns Sanral
N1 closure between Atterbury and Rigel set for Sunday, warns Sanral Motorists using the N1 in Pretoria are advised to prepare for temporary road closures on the southbound route this weekend. The road closure is due to planned roadworks by the South African National Roads Agency (Sanral). Sanral announced that the closure will take place on Sunday, from 09:00 to 15:00, on the N1 Section 21 southbound, just before the Rigel Avenue off-ramp, in the direction from Atterbury Road towards Rigel Avenue. Gauteng Provincial Head, Progress Hlahla, said the closure is necessary to facilitate the replacement of an overhead gantry sign as part of Sanral's broader infrastructure upgrade programme. 'This forms part of Sanral's ongoing project to replace ageing overhead signs along national routes,' said Hlahla. 'Many of these signs have faded over time and no longer meet the required standards for night-time visibility and reflectivity. The initiative aims to improve road safety and visibility for all road users.' She explained that all main lanes on the southbound carriageway will be temporarily closed, and traffic will be diverted to the emergency slow lane for the duration of the work to safely carry out the replacement. 'Motorists will be directed to clearly marked alternative routes from Atterbury Road, guiding them to the Rigel on-ramp, where they can rejoin the N1 freeway at Rigel Avenue. Still, road users should expect some delays and are encouraged to plan their trips accordingly.' The road closure was initially set to take place on Saturday, but was postponed to Sunday. Sanral is appealing to all motorists to plan their journeys ahead of time. Drivers are urged to follow traffic accommodation signs and instructions from flag personnel and to remain patient and cautious when travelling through the affected area. The agency apologised for any inconvenience this road closure may cause. 'We remain committed to improving the safety and quality of our national roads.' Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to [email protected] or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok.
TimesLIVE
05-08-2025
- Health
- TimesLIVE
Gauteng premier waiting for evidence to act against health department head
Gauteng premier Panyaza Lesufi says the lifestyle audit of health department head Lesiba Malotana is still outstanding and he will decide his future as soon as it is finalised. 'I act on evidence. The evidence I have now is insufficient and the institution conducting lifestyle audits has requested an extension and I've granted that extension. When they conclude that report I'll be in a position to take action.' Gauteng MPLs engaged MECs during question time at a sitting in Selbourn Hall, Johannesburg, on Tuesday. On Sunday, Lesufi reshuffled and removed several heads of department after a damning report that revealed about R1.8bn in underspending, including missed service delivery performance targets. He said some department heads had missed their performance targets. Lesufi also told MPLs the provincial government is on track with its E-tolls debt repayment plan. 'We are on track. We don't owe the national government. We owe the South African National Roads Agency. So far we've [paid] three instalments. We remain with two instalments and we'll ensure the history of E-tolls in our country is buried once and for all.'
Daily Maverick
21-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Maverick
Every single billboard on R21 to OR Tambo Airport is illegal, says Sanral
Billboard owners, emboldened by industry intimidation tactics and government inaction, are costing local and national authorities millions of rands in lost revenue. The outdoor advertising industry has gone rogue. The South African National Roads Agency (Sanral), backed by the City of Ekurhuleni, admitted that not a single billboard on the R21 freeway — stretching from Johannesburg to OR Tambo International Airport — has been lawfully installed. An investigation by Daily Maverick uncovered that billboard owners, emboldened by industry intimidation tactics and government inaction, are costing local and national authorities millions of rands in lost revenue. Worse yet, some are structurally unsound and could collapse, endangering motorists. They can also cause dangerous conditions by obstructing road signs. Outdoor advertisers are required to pay upfront fees — up to R400,000 — for leases at high-visibility spots, as well as 20% of their monthly earnings from the billboards to the local and national entities, a regulation that's largely ignored. There is a deliberate pattern of non-compliance — companies exploit loopholes to install boards on private property, knowing that enforcement is weak and legal battles are costly for authorities. Monitoring efforts have been largely abandoned by road and council officials, allowing illegal installations to multiply. Ekurhuleni councillor Jill Humphreys admitted the city had 'given up' on removing the illegal structures. 'The industry takes advantage of this. There is no money, no manpower. The industry knows we can't fight them and is taking advantage of that.' Sanral confirmed that every billboard on the R21, including those mounted on bridges, is illegal under the Sanral Act. Sanral spokesperson Lwando Mahlasela said it was difficult to track illegal billboards. 'It is influenced by many factors such as billboards not yet reported by routine road maintenance, those in the process of being illegally erected, those in the process of being removed, as well as those under consideration by the municipalities.' He said workers tasked with removing illegal billboards had been threatened. 'There have been threats made against officials by certain individuals and companies within the outdoor industry. These incidents have been reported and are currently under investigation by our legal department for further handling.' He said billboards on private land must be authorised. 'If not removed when requested, the owner can be asked to provide access to the property for removal, but should there be objections, a court interdict may be needed to enter the property.' Warnings The City of Ekurhuleni claims that the advertising industry has largely ignored calls to regularise billboards. This month, the city gave advertisers 21 days to register their billboards, ending on 4 August. The MMC for developmental planning and real estate, Nomadlozi Nkosi, placed 'illegal advertising' stickers on three billboards in Bedfordview, Alberton and Sunward Park, threatening the owners with fines, legal action and possible removal of the billboards at their own cost. The average cost to remove an 18 sq m billboard is between R100,000 and R150,000. If they are erected illegally on private property and the owner refuses access, court applications are needed to enter the property. Ekurhuleni spokesperson Zweli Dlamini said the municipality only had three people to monitor for illegal billboards. Safety risk He said illegal billboards placed motorists at risk by blocking visibility and obscuring road signs 'They may also be structurally unsafe if not approved, increasing the risk of collapse, especially in extreme weather conditions,' he said. The billboards are uninsured and do not carry public liability or professional indemnity insurance. 'There have been incidents where bylaw enforcement officers were threatened or met with resistance when attempting to remove illegal advertising signs,' said Dlamini. 'In some cases, individuals claiming ownership of the signs have intervened aggressively to prevent removal. 'These incidents have been reported through the appropriate internal channels, and where necessary, law enforcement support has been requested to ensure the safety of officials and compliance with the city's bylaws.' The city estimates there are about 78 illegal billboards on the R21. 'The department is exploring means to vigorously deal with the insurgent illegal advertising across the city in terms of bylaw enforcement,' said Dlamini. The exact loss in revenue is unquantifiable, but Dlamini points out that legal applications to erect billboards cost R1,810, with an inspection charge of R250 per square metre, plus 20% of the monthly revenue generated by the billboard. 'None of this money reaches the city when structures are off our records. In addition to the direct revenue loss, illegal signs undermine regulated competition and place a financial burden on the city's enforcement resources,' he said. The city's outdoor advertising bylaw enforcement unit removed 873 illegal billboards from council-owned properties and road reserves during the 2023-2024 financial year. Industry's response Angelo Tandy, the chairperson of Out of Home Media South Africa (Ohmsa), a voluntary industry umbrella body, said: 'While isolated instances of non-compliance may occur in any industry, these do not reflect the values of the majority of our stakeholders. We also work tirelessly with government and the various municipalities to fix the challenges facing the industry in efforts to positively transform the outdoor industry.' Ohmsa does not possess regulatory enforcement powers, but it functions as a self-regulatory body by promoting adherence to municipal bylaws and national regulations. 'We offer guidance, training, and a code of conduct to our members, reinforcing governance and operational accountability,' said Tandy. Tandy dismissed accusations of 'mafia-style' organisations in Ekurhuleni that threaten officials who try to remove illegal billboards. 'We are not in possession of verified information regarding these allegations and cannot comment on speculation. We strongly condemn any form of intimidation or criminality and encourage municipal officials and stakeholders to report unlawful conduct to the appropriate authorities.' Tandy said the regularisation of boards with municipalities was an ongoing process. 'Our efforts include ongoing stakeholder engagement to encourage best practices, providing training and resources to our members, and actively supporting policies that promote fair competition and innovation. 'We advocate for an inclusive and transparent permitting process, prioritise SMME development, and support municipal enforcement efforts to dismantle non-compliant boards while expanding compliant access for new entrants. 'The regularisation of alleged illegal billboards is an ongoing issue in South Africa, especially in larger urban areas. However, Ohmsa encourages its members to work closely with local authorities to remain compliant and to help mitigate the challenges.' Neither Jinja Outdoor Advertising or Alliance Media, companies that own boards on the R21, responded to a request for comment. DM
