South African toll gates to upgrade payment system. Image: TopAuto.
(The Post News) – South Africa’s toll gates will soon accept tap-to-pay transactions, fixing cash and card handover worries by offering faster, safer systems by December 2025.
The South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL) and its concession partners will upgrade their system and begin to introduce the tap-to-pay option in October or November, covering the toll gates at the N1, N2, N3, N4, and N17 routes. Bakwena’s 15 toll plazas will then follow in the last quarter of 2025.
The system will support payments via debit, credit, and check cards, as well as digital wallets such as Apple Pay. However, American Express, Diners Club, and RCS cards will not be accepted.
Motorists React to Payment Upgrade on Toll Gates
The upgrade has been long-awaited and welcomed by motorists, many of whom have questioned why such a convenience, standard in most supermarkets and corner stores, was not introduced earlier. The toll gates have been flagged by police as high-risk areas for fraud, including card cloning and skimming. It is believed that the cashiers could hide their actions in the booth window without being seen.
SANRAL, however, has clarified that most issues stem from cloned cards being used at toll gates rather than internal fraud. The new tap-to-pay system is expected to significantly reduce these risks by making transactions more transparent and traceable, while also speeding up vehicle flow and reducing congestion at busy toll points.
Please share your thoughts; contact Lukhona via email: journalist-lukhona@thepostnews.net
About the Author
