78 year old refuses to pay R19 e-toll bill

Val Woodward, a 78 year-old said she was hijacked at gunpoint five years ago. “I will not pay because I am not liable for the actions of hijackers who stole my Toyota Tazz, ” she said. “I reported the incident five years ago to Midrand police, but the vehicle was never recovered.

She said she had de-registered the vehicle, but in February she received an e-toll bill of R19. “The photo attached was of a Mercedes Benz vehicle with the number plates of my Toyota Tazz that hijackers stole. The details in the statement were mine, but the vehicle obviously is not.”

Woodward queried the bill and was told by South African National Roads Agency Limited that she must send a sworn affidavit that the vehicle was hers. “I did all the necessary paperwork and affidavits at Midrand Police Station, but I later received an SMS from the roads agency telling me that my representation was rejected and I must pay the bill.”

Midrand police spokesperson, Constable Matome Tlamela confirmed that Woodward had come to Midrand police station to get an affidavit five years ago. “We have a record of the incident in our system stating that she was hijacked,” said Tlamela.

Spokesperson for Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance, John Clarke said, “The roads agency is faced with operational problems and road users should not be forced to pay for property they do not own. The alliance receives many complaints about e-tolls.

“Through the alliance’s on-line complaint portal, we have received over 7 000 complaints between January and March 2014 regarding e-tolls. Woodward is one of many road users being exploited by the e-tolling system.”

Roads agency spokesperson Vusi Mona said complaints could be forwarded to the agency. “If people receive incorrect bills or have queries due to number plate cloning, they can contact our call centre.”

For e-toll billing queries call 0800 726 725.