MPUMALANGA’S chambers of commerce are protesting against three toll gates erected along the 400-km highway between Witbank and Komatipoort. Two of the gates have already been opened at the towns of Middelburg and Machadodorp, costing motorists an additional R20 and R30 respectively. “A round trip Nelspruit to Gauteng will now cost the ordinary motorist R100,” said President of the Nelspruit chamber of commerce, Auke Keyser. Large trucks pay R170 to pass through the Machadodorp toll gate alone. “The fees at the plazas are exorbitant and we feel that they should be decreased to acceptable standards,” Keyser said. The Middelburg and Witbank chambers of commerce are also calling for a reduction in tariffs and are channelling their grievances through the Mpumalanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The Mpumalanga CCI is negotiating toll fees with Trans African Concession (Trac) which was granted the 30-year contract to build operate and transfer the N4 toll route.