Great, according to the spokesperson for SANRAL, it will only cost people R450 if, and please note if, they register for e-toll. In all honesty I can say that I don’t even have R200 extra in my budget, let alone R450.
On this note, please explain to me how SANRAL and our government expect from me, an many others, to make provision for this extra costs in our budgets, which are already cut to the bone, but those using public transport are not affected? What makes them any different from other road users? If we have to fork out the extra money, well then I expect everyone else using these roads, whether in a private vehicle or in public transport, to also work that into their budgets. Are we not all equal in our constitution? Where is our constitutional right then in this ridiculous saga of pay or else?
I have been receiving SMS after SMS threatening me that I only having seven days left to register. I have been phoned and asked when I am planning to pay and when can SANRAl expect payment from me. I told them never.
I have never entered into a contract with SANRAL, so I have no legal obligation to pay them anything. As a matter of fact, they have, without my permission, and by own admittance during this phone call, unlawfully gained access to my private information from the E-Natis system – so what happened to my right to privacy?
For SANRAL to further state that by using these e-toll roads I am legally bound to pay as with any other toll road in the country… that is just the point. Those throughout the country make provision for everyone using it, to pay and not just those using private vehicles. I use the e-toll roads to do my job, to put bread and butter on the table, to clothe my children – not because I like it, but because I have to.
Travelling in my private time, I avoid these roads, but during a working week there is no time to avoid the e-toll.
Another concern is the notable increase in food prices. Is this due to delivery trucks to the chain stores having to pay e-toll and now that money has to be generated elsewhere? By increasing food prices? How is this to the benefit of anyone – especially pensioners and the poorest of the poor?
Please explain then, why does SANRAL personnel team up with the metro police to stop vehicles if they have no legal right to do so? And this is happening more and more. If these metro officers are on the roads to enforce the law, surely SANRAL personnel need not hold their hands. Are they not trained to do proper law enforcement concerning road safety issues? What are SANRAL personnel doing next to metro officers if, and I quote,”they have authority to stop any vehicle and to enforce e-toll laws”?
There are simply too many holes in the SANRAL system and the way they are trying to force us to pay. I pay my taxes, I pay fuel taxes – why should I pay e-toll? Until such time that SANRAL realises what is good for the goose is good for the gander, and until such time that each and everything with wheels, carrying passengers and/or only one driver if it is an empty taxi or bus, passing through those gantries pay what they expect me to pay, I will not pay e-toll.
I would love to hear from a legal expert what our rights are. If there is anyone out there, please contact the RECORD and let us ordinary people know where we stand.
Fair is fair
