The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) has issued a public statement refuting a viral communique that falsely claims the agency is revising national speed limits and enforcing stricter traffic laws from 1 July 2024.
The widely circulated message alleges the introduction of sweeping changes to speed regulations, including reductions on urban, rural, and national roads, as well as new limitations for heavy vehicles and school zones. According to the fake message, the so-called “SANRAL Highway Law” would reduce:
- Urban road limits from 60 km/h to 50 km/h
- Rural road limits from 100 km/h to 80 km/h
- Highway limits from 120 km/h to 110 km/h
- Heavy vehicle limits to 90 km/h
- School zones to 30 km/h during school hours
Vusi Mona, SANRAL’s General Manager for Communication and Marketing, firmly denied these claims, stating:
“SANRAL has a distinct mandate to manage the country’s national road network. This includes financing, planning, developing, and maintaining roads, but it does not include enforcement of speed or safety regulations. That authority lies with traffic enforcement agencies.”
Mona emphasized that SANRAL operates strictly under the SANRAL Act of 1998, which defines its responsibilities as infrastructure-related, not law enforcement.
Members of the public are urged to verify suspicious information through official channels. SANRAL has provided its hotline (0800 204 508) and tip-off email (sanral@tip-offs.co.za) for such reports. Media professionals are encouraged to confirm news directly through pressoffice@nra.co.za.
