The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) has firmly denied involvement in a widely circulated message falsely claiming it will implement stricter speed limits on South Africa’s national road network from 1 July.

The viral communique, designed to look official, claims SANRAL is introducing sweeping changes to speed limits across urban, rural, and highway roads under the so-called “SANRAL Highway Law.”

However, SANRAL has dismissed the message as fake and misleading.

“SANRAL has a distinct mandate to manage the country’s national road network. This mandate encompasses the financing, planning, development, improvement, maintenance, and rehabilitation of the national roads, as prescribed by the SANRAL Act of 1998,” said Vusi Mona, SANRAL’s general manager for communication and marketing.

“The SANRAL mandate does not include any enforcement rights—be that related to speed, safety, or security.”

According to the false document, new speed limits were to include:

• Urban roads reduced from 60 km/h to 50 km/h

• Rural roads adjusted from 100 km/h to 80 km/h

• Highways capped at 110 km/h (down from 120 km/h)

• Heavy vehicles restricted to 90 km/h on all roads

• School zones set to a strict 30 km/h during school hours

Also read: Speed limit and penalties explained after EMPD busts taxi driver

Mona warned the public not to be misled by unofficial sources and urged vigilance when receiving road-related updates.

“We encourage members of the public to contact SANRAL’s hotline at 0800 204 508 or email sanral@tip-offs.co.za if they come across suspicious information,” he said.

“Journalists and newsrooms are welcome to verify facts with our press office via pressoffice@nra.co.za.”