‘E-toll bills not mine’ says local resident
Local residents receives e-toll bills despite never having driven in Johannesburg.
A DURBAN North resident who has not driven his vehicle to Johannesburg in eight years was informed recently that he owed R299 in Johannesburg e-tolls. What’s more, he is concerned that somebody is using his car registration illegally. According to Allan Bower, the photographed vehicle on the fine, while sharing the same number plate, is a different car. Incorrect billing and phantom fines have become commonplace with the new e-toll system with fake and cloned number plates being the main culprit.
Numerous motorists have complained about incorrect e-toll bills, with some motorists who have never travelled on Gauteng’s roads receiving large invoices from The South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL).
“I drive a Subaru, but the vehicle appearing on the fines is a VW Kombi. What they have done is clone my number plates. I’ve not been to Johannesburg in eight years and when I do visit, I travel via plane. We’ve been in Durban on both occasions when my car is alleged to have travelled through the gantries. It’s annoying and a massive inconvenience. What happens if the vehicle with my plates is used in a crime? I will be then held liable.
“The new laws are supposed to protect law-abiding motorists, but in this case these guys have blatantly cloned my plates and are cruising around Johannesburg. My frustration is hampered by the fact that no one from the e-toll communications department or the eNatis database can let me know what can be done,” he said.
According to Zurika Louw, CEO of the SA Number Plate Association, the problem is only going to get worse until regulations are set in place to address the issue.
“There are approximately a thousand legal embossers in South Africa, and it is impossible to police each and every one. Because KZN number plates are made out of plastic, they are easier to clone. Anyone can purchase the materials needed to clone a plastic number plate at a hardware store or a sign shop. In this case, the local resident is very lucky the car used is completely different, in most cases, criminals will find a similar car, which is much harder to disprove. Because photos taken by the gantries are so grainy, it’s very difficult to prove that the vehicle used isn’t yours,” she said.
Louw added that cloning an aluminium number plate is far more difficult and needs special equipment. According to a survey in Gauteng, it was found that around 40 per cent of number plates were illegal or non-compliant.
