The South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL) has firmly denied circulating claims that it is introducing new speed limits across the country, describing the widely shared message on social media as “fake news.”
A viral WhatsApp and Facebook message alleged that SANRAL would be implementing new reduced speed limits starting July 1, including a drop from 120 km/h to 110 km/h on national highways and from 60 km/h to 50 km/h in urban areas.
It also mentioned speed restrictions for heavy vehicles and stricter enforcement around school zones.
However, SANRAL has come out strongly to clarify that it has no authority to set or enforce speed limits.
“The information in circulation is false and misleading. SANRAL does not have any mandate to introduce or enforce speed regulations,” the agency stated in a press release on Tuesday.
According to the SANRAL Act of 1998, the agency is tasked with financing, planning, developing, and maintaining South Africa’s national road network.
It does not possess legislative or enforcement powers regarding traffic speed regulations.
The fake message suggested that new national speed limits would be implemented as follows:
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Urban roads: from 60 km/h to 50 km/h
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Rural roads: from 100 km/h to 80 km/h
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Highways and national routes: from 120 km/h to 110 km/h
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Heavy vehicles: capped at 90 km/h across all roads
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School zones: 30 km/h during school hours
SANRAL stressed that only the national Department of Transport, in conjunction with traffic law enforcement authorities, has the authority to review and implement changes to speed limits.
“We urge the public to verify any road-related announcements via SANRAL’s official channels and not to share unverified information,” the statement added.
The agency is encouraging citizens to report any suspicious or misleading communications by contacting its anti-fraud hotline at 0800 204 508 or by emailing sanral@tip-offs.com.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of misinformation in the digital age and the importance of checking facts before sharing content online.
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