Alternative plan for e-tolls in the works
The tender included plans to use e-tolls to record motorists average speed on the highway.
Nine years after its disastrous start, Gauteng’s controversial e-toll system could be scrapped to serve a new function.
The system, which is used to force motorists to pay for using many of Gauteng’s highways, will now reportedly be used to collect data and average speed.
At a media conference in June, transport minister Fikile Mbalula said the government will be making an announcement regarding the e-tolling system in October.
Mbalula said talks with finance minister Enoch Godogwana and President Cyril Ramaphosa are still ongoing.
The e-toll system, which many residents believe is a coercive means of making money, has met fierce resistance since it was introduced in 2013 in parts of Tshwane and Johannesburg.
Many motorists refused to pay outright and called for the system to scrapped.
Sanral, the operator of the system, released a tender in August suggesting that it is looking for alternative use for the system with one proposal being to measure the average speed of cars passing through.
Speaking with Rekord, Wayne Duvenage, CEO of Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) said it has been clear for a very long time that the e-toll system is not sustainable at all.
“It was clear from the beginning that this system was not going to work, and we have told the government on many occasions to scrap the system,” he said.
“We feel that it is a coercive means of making money so we have spoken with government and suggested that instead of scrapping the system entirely and wasting all that money, they use it as a means of enforcing the law on the road.
“As I understand it, there are plans in place where e-tolls will be used to measure the average speed of motorists driving through them.”
Duvenage added that e-tolls could also be used to gather data in the future.
“This data will include things like how many people use certain off-ramps and how many cars drive through a certain area a day.
“This data can be very useful for local property developers and city planners.”
Over the years, the government has been criticised for making many promises concerning e-tolls that were never met.
Since 2019, Mbalula has made promises about scrapping the e-toll system but never came through.
In May, Gauteng Roads and Transport MEC Jacob Mamabolo said the his government has also called for the scrapping of the system.
“The people want to know what the government’s final decision is on e-tolls.
“Only a few people, mainly businesses, are still paying.
“We suggested they scrap e-tolls,” said Duvenage.
“It has failed to garner sufficient compliance levels.
“Schemes like this have been known to fail when compliance levels drop below 80%.
“Ours is at 15%,” said Duvenage.
In July, Mbalula abandoned the government’s proposal to increase fuel prices to pay off e-toll system debt, which according to Duvenage, totalled R18-billion.
“There was a decision that was taken by the cabinet on the e-tolls which was taking us in the direction of the fuel levy,” Mbulula said.
“The fuel levy [increase] story has become very messy over time and it is no longer an option we can consider.
“We are not taking that route.”
Mbalula said that the cabinet will be looking at other means to settle the debt, and this will be announced by Godongwana around the medium-term budget policy statement (MTBPS) time in October.
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