New Toll Plaza Proposed for Beitbridge Border Crossing

MUSINA — 14 July 2025

South Africa plans to build a new toll plaza at the Beitbridge Border Post, the country’s busiest land crossing with Zimbabwe, the Department of Transport announced.

The public can comment on the proposal until 19 September 2025. The project aims to improve traffic flow and boost revenue along the vital N1 trade corridor (Department of Transport statement).

South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL) recommended the toll plaza after reclassifying N1 sections as national roads in 2018. The 1.1-kilometre toll stretch will be entirely on the South African side in Musina Municipality (SANRAL legislative mandate).

Beitbridge serves as a key transit hub for trade with Zimbabwe, Botswana, Mozambique, Zambia, Malawi, and DRC. Thousands of travellers and over 300 freight trucks use the crossing daily, moving billions of rands worth of goods (infrastructure data).

The proposal follows a R4 billion border upgrade completed in 2018. Before upgrades, freight trucks faced week-long delays. The border now operates 24/7 with smoother traffic flows. Currently, Zimbabwe collects southbound tolls, while South Africa would introduce new tolls on its territory (border operations record).

The Department invites written submissions on the plan until 19 September 2025. Pricing structures, efficiency impacts, and effects on regional trade costs are expected to drive public debate.