Future of e-toll system to be made known today
Today it seems motorists will know their fate regarding the E-toll system.
Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa will announce an e-tolls decision today, which is expected to detail the final funding model for the province’s controversial toll system.
E-tolls have been in place for nearly 18 months now, but the system has been a financial failure with motorists in general refusing the pay.
At the beginning of the year, the Gauteng Department of Transport made known that it is willing to review certain elements of the e-toll system. .
These elements related to affordability, sustainability and administration problems with the system.
Gauteng Premier David Makhura released a report during January, complied by the e-tolls assessment panel he established last year, which assessed the socio-economic impact of e-tolls on Gauteng motorists.
Makhura admitted that the e-tolling system placed a disproportionate burden on low and middle income households.
The batlle over the use of public roads in Gauteng has a long history dating back to 2011 when Sanral announced the proposed tariffs.
Just before the system was due to go live in 2012, a civil action group of businesses and individuals – Outa- launched a court action. The case bought the public another year of free road use.
In December 2013, e-tolls went live. The delays had already cost Sanral millions in lost revenue.
Transport Minister Dipuo Peters told parliament yesterday (May 20) that fewer motorists were registering as new e-toll users, and thanked “law-abiding” road users for paying.
She also revealed that monthly expenditure for Sanral stood at R66-million, with the bulk of the money going to toll operations and maintenance at R47-million.
DA calls on review panel to scrap E-tolls
Motorists could pay less for e–tolls
Possible criminal record looms for those who do not pay E–tolls .
One year on, E–tolls remain an embarrassing mess –
E–toll system must be reviewed
