New e-toll tariffs come into effect
The new e-toll tariffs and monthly caps for registered users have been in effect since Thursday (July 2).
This is the first part of the new dispensation announced by deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa on May 20.
“Government listened to the concerns of lower and middle income communities about the impact of transport costs on their budgets, and responded by reducing the tariffs,” says Vusi Mona, spokesman for the South African National Road Agency Limited (Sanral).
Account holders are the first to benefit from the new dispensation with reduced tariffs per kilometre and monthly caps on all classes of vehicles.
For light vehicles the monthly cap is now only R225 for Sanral account holders.
This is down by 50% from the R450 per month that has been levied up until now.
Existing Sanral account holders can continue managing their account as usual as the system will be automatically adjusted to recognise Sanral account holders.
Mona says existing payment options will remain in place and Sanral account holders will continue to have access to a wide range of choices on how to settle their bills.
The introduction of the lowered standard tariff that is now the same as the e-tag tariff which will provide relief to users who are not registered.
“We remind road users that all aspects of the new dispensation on the Gauteng e-roads will take place over the next 18 months,” Mona says.
The relief announced for road users that do not have a Sanral account will also become applicable once changes have been made to the system.
The implementation date of the 60% discount on existing debt in arrears, dating back to December 2013, will be announced once it becomes available.
Other innovations such as the 30 free gantry passes per annum will be announced once the system and administrative requirements have been fulfilled.
The new dispensation also means that all the administrative and technical loopholes will be closed.
Every road user will pay their fair share while both the national and provincial governments will also make their contributions in accordance with the hybrid funding model that was proposed by the e-toll advisory panel.
