Gauteng e-tolls to be switched off early 2023 – Lesufi

The e-toll billing system will be deactivated in the New Year, bringing an end to the contentious Gauteng Freeway Improvement System (GFIP) electronic tolling gantries.

This comes weeks after Gauteng committed to pay 30% of the R43 billion GFIP debt.

In a statement on New Year’s Eve, Premier Panyaza Lesufi’s office said “there would be no turning back on doing away with e-tolls.”

“Today, 31 December 2022, was penciled as the day to deactivate the e-tolls billing system. However, due to the need to finalise key components of the MOU between the national government and
the provincial government, the matter will be finalised in the new year.

“The Premier is thrilled by the progress made thus far by the technical team that has been assigned with deactivating the e-tolls billing system.”

RELATED: Gauteng to contribute R12.9 billion towards the decommissioning of e-tolls

The gantries have been recording e-toll bills since inception on 3 December 2013.

Some motorists boycotted the tolling system, racking up bills running into thousands of Rands over the years. Many cited the poor state of alternative roads and an unreliable public transport system as reasons for non-payment.

The civil disobedience was backed by lobby groups such as the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA), which launched campaigns and court action against e-tolls. Soon, the provincial government, various political parties and labour unions joined in boycotting the GFIP system.

The matter stalled at the national government as National Treasury resisted scrapping of e-tolls. The two arms of government didn’t see eye to eye on e-tolls, sending contradictory messages on the contentious issue.

READ MORE: E-tolls are dead, but could lead to budget cuts elsewhere for years to come

Last month, Lesufi announced that the province has committed R12.9 billion towards the decommissioning of e-tolls, which is a 30% contribution of the outstanding R43 billion debt.

The provincial government also said that it will negotiate a long-term repayment period on the 30% debt, and that the timeframes would be advised by the technical team.

“A long-term repayment period will ensure that we relieve the pressure on the provincial government fiscus, whilst maintaining the delivery of social services and other imperatives such as fighting crime,” said Lesufi.

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana had previously indicated that national government would be assuming 70% of Sanral’s debt, while Gauteng would be assuming 30%.

According to Lesufi’s spokesperson, Vuyo Mhaga, a notice to switch off e-tolls will be gazetted, with the actual switch-off taking place 14 days after.

“The gazette will be released in early 2023, as agreed by the national Department of Transport.

NOW READ: End of e-tolls will ‘compel govt to establish alternative funding’ for freeway improvement project