It was also reported that sources close to the roads agency had revealed that the knives were out for embattled Sanral boss, Nazir Ali, as angry ANC leaders blamed him for the messy e-tolls saga. It was stated that Sanral faced unprecedented resistance from various civil and political organisations.
In response to these media reports, Opposition To Urban Tolling Alliance (Outa) said they had always indicated that the e-toll system’s ability to survive in the medium term as an efficient ‘user-pays’ scheme, was always questionable.
Outa chairman Wayne Duvenage, said they had presented the Inter-Ministerial Committee with numerous reasons why the scheme would fail. Not least of which was its unenforceability due to its many inaccuracies and erroneous data from the national e-Natis vehicle licence system. However, Outa believed it was too easy for the ANC leadership to now make Ali the scapegoat.
“Our government’s ministers and director generals are far too hasty in their acceptance of major capital expenditure projects, and do not go to the required lengths to double check the claims, data and research presented to them,” Duvenage said.
Outa stated that the fuel levy had increased significantly to R55 billion per annum, and the exorbitant government-induced increases to the fuel levy since the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project construction began in 2008, could finance the equivalent of three extra freeway upgrade projects, in cash, every year.
“Thus, for Sanral and Treasury to pooh-pooh the fuel levy as a viable alternative to finance urban freeway infrastructure is disingenuous and is certainly indicative of a government who desires to make the cost of living for its citizens far more expensive than it ought to be,” Duvenage said.
Sanral stated that as of the end of September, revenue collection was at just under R60 million and since the announcement of the new dispensation, compliance had improved but was not yet at the level it was in June last year.
Sanral spokesperson Vusi Mona said, “Gauteng e-tolls is still in its ramp-up phase. Once the project reaches a steady state, it is expected to raise R230 million per month. It should be noted that cash receipts are not the same as revenue, the difference being debtors or outstanding receipts.”
He added that Sanral fully intended to collect these debts over a period of time. “Sanral’s successful bond auction last week, where we raised R397 million, is a testament to investors understanding these concepts and trusting government’s support for the Sanral toll portfolio.”
Sanral wouldn’t respond to allegations that the knives were out for Ali and that they were solvent.
“Non-payment of debt has had a negative impact on our debt levels on the toll portfolio only. We have two portfolios toll and non-toll, which is 85 percent of our network and is healthy,” Mona said.
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