Tshwane Reopens Weighbridges to Curb Road Damage and Recover Lost Revenue

Freight trucks will no longer ride roughshod over Tshwane’s roads. The city is clamping down, starting with two long-overdue weighbridge reopenings.

After more than a decade of watching revenue leak and roads deteriorate under the weight of overloaded trucks, the City of Tshwane has hit the brakes on unchecked freight transport. In a major move welcomed by road safety advocates, the municipality has officially reopened two weighbridges, one in Akasia and another in Centurion.

A New Era of Accountability on the Roads

Speaking at the launch, Mayoral Committee member for Community Safety, Hannes Coetzee, called the reopening a symbol of restored law and order on Tshwane’s roads. For too long, heavy vehicles have dodged axle-weight laws, damaging infrastructure and risking lives.

“This is about ending lawlessness on our roads. These weighbridges allow the Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD) to stop, weigh, fine, and if necessary, impound vehicles that violate legal load limits,” said Coetzee.

The reopened facilities empower the TMPD to enforce laws around truck weights, something that had been nearly impossible without functioning weighbridges. The cost of neglect? Damaged roads, increased maintenance costs, and millions lost in uncollected fines.

Big Win for Community Safety

Neo Mocumi, chairperson of the Section 79 Community Safety Committee, applauded the reopening of the Akasia facility. She emphasised that these weighbridges aren’t just about rules—they’re about saving lives and protecting public assets.

“Heavy-duty vehicles that ignore weight limits pose a serious risk to other motorists. This infrastructure will ensure compliance and support law enforcement efforts to keep our roads safe,” Mocumi said.

A Long-Awaited Return of Infrastructure Policing

The two weighbridges, once dormant and underutilised, are now fully operational and aligned with South Africa’s road transport laws. Engineers, TMPD officers, and technicians worked tirelessly behind the scenes to restore the facilities.

Their revival marks a new phase in Tshwane’s approach to urban management—less reactive, more preventive.

Coetzee praised the multi-party coalition currently governing the metro for getting the project off the ground: “This reflects good governance, and a shared commitment to building a safer and stronger Tshwane.”

Why This Matters to Residents

Whether you’re a daily commuter or a logistics business owner, the impact of overloaded freight vehicles is felt citywide. From potholes and traffic congestion to increased accident risk, unchecked truckloads burden everyone. With these weighbridges now active, Tshwane is finally positioned to turn that around.

Expect to see more enforcement on major truck routes and stricter compliance monitoring in coming months. The City says this is just the beginning of a broader push to modernise traffic law enforcement, reclaim lost revenue, and keep citizens safe.

For residents long frustrated by the state of local roads, this may just be the shift they’ve been waiting for.

{Source: IOL}

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