Johannesburg - Traffic congestion conservatively costs the south African business R15m an hour, Sacci estimated on Thursday.

"This estimate does not include fuel and vehicle maintenance costs, the cost of late freight deliveries, or other associated transport and business opportunity costs," the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry said in a statement.

"It also does not include costs related to accidents and collisions," it said.

Sacci blamed the congestion on poor maintenance of infrastructure, including potholes, the absence of street markings, non-operation of traffic lights and delays in dealing with accidents.

"These conditions are exacerbated by the extensive projects on motorways, which promise improvements in the future, but at present constitute a cost to the business community," it said.

"Coupled with poor driving habits, these conditions also result in unnecessary collisions that compound the congestion."

Sacci said its estimate was based on estimates of 90 000 vehicles travelling between Pretoria and Johannesburg between 6.30am and 8.30am on weekdays, with one person a vehicle and an average income of R170 an hour.

"Costs such as these impede South Africa's already hesitant recovery from the global economic crisis," it said.

"They constitute a hidden, but significant negative impact on small and medium size enterprises in particular, and add to the cost of doing business."

Sacci believed that, in the interests of the greater public good, it was imperative that the causes of the congestion be addressed by the appropriate authorities and that remedies be introduced as a matter of urgency.

- Sapa