Sanral: Police are not targeting e-tag free motorists
The South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) has refuted claims that motorists without e-tags were being targeted by police.
The roads agency was responding to complaints made to a radio station by motorists claiming that the police had stopped them over the weekend to check whether they had an e-tag.
“We categorically deny that there is any partnership with the [Metro police] on this. No vehicles on any road are being checked to see whether they are e-tag registered. The [Metro police] has in the past distanced itself from this and so did we,” said the roads agency’s spokesperson Vusi Mona.
Mona clarified that acquiring an e-tag was optional and no road user should be stopped for not having one.
“There could be people who are doing this illegally in our name or it is one of those urban legends now gaining a life of its own,” said Mona.
The roads agency urged motorists who had been stopped to allegedly check if they had an e-tag to contact Sanral.
Furthermore, any motorist who had been stopped by someone posing as a Metro police officer was advised to report the incident to the police.
Meanwhile, the roads agency continued to encourage motorists to obtain an e-tag in order to qualify for the discounts available.
“Getting e-tagged makes it is possible for the road user to get a 48 percent discount and to have their monthly bill capped, among other benefits, but is not compulsory,” Mona said.
