The process of determining toll fees in the Western Cape would be the same as that used for all existing toll roads in the country and, therefore, there would be no sudden increases, the South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) assured road users on Wednesday.

Responding to concerns raised by the Cape Chamber of Commerce around how the tariffs for the Western Cape toll roads would be set and increased, Sanral noted that the Transport Minister set the toll fees on a yearly basis.

“Thus, the three concessionaires who presently run stretches of the national route have certainty as far as their fee structure is concerned and can plan ahead. The same will apply to whichever company will be contracted to toll the N1 and N2 in and around the city of Cape Town” Sanral communications manager Vusi Mona said in a statement.

He explained that the contractor, once appointed, would have to build, upgrade, maintain and manage the toll roads, and thus tolls would continue to be paid once construction was completed.

Meanwhile, Mona added that the agency was taken aback by the chamber's position that it was opposed to any form of tolling.

"For people who come from the private sector to oppose the user pays principle and take a position that essentially shuts out private sector participation in the country's infrastructure development is disappointing. But that is what happens when politics trumps business sense," he said.