Sanral’s propaganda just not sustainable?

The South African National Roads Agency Limited’s (Sanral) latest print advertisement tries to counteract the anti e-toll argument that the fuel levy is sufficient to maintain roads.

‘It’s just not sustainable’ the advertisement reads in bold type before arguing in two short paragraphs why the fuel levy alone will not be enough to maintain roads anymore.

Howard Dembovsky of Justice Project South Africa (JPSA) has taken Sanral to task over their flawed reasoning and what he refers to as ‘outright lies at worst’.

The advertisement is based on the fact that the fuel levy is archaic because it dates from the 1970s and that fuel-efficient vehicles such as hybrid and electric vehicles are set to become prolific.

According to Dembovsky the greatest amount of damage to roads are caused by heavy goods vehicles that use large quantities of fuel.

“Furthermore the average new-vehicle sales monthly in South Africa represent a mere 5,9 per cent of the entire current but growing vehicle population. In August 2013, 56 112 new motor vehicles were sold and South Africa’s best-known hybrid vehicle, the Toyota Prius, sold just three units,” Dembovsky argues.

“If, as it would appear they are, Sanral, is saying that the fuel levy should be scrapped, then that is a completely different kettle of fish and we would be forced to agree with them – given the fact that it has been acutely demonstrated that our fuel levy is not being used for roads infrastructure as it should be.

“South Africa consumed approximately 11,3-billion litres of petrol and 9,1-billion litres of diesel during 2009. In 2012, these figures increased to approximately 11,7-billion litres of petrol and 11,3-billion litres of diesel, representing an increase of around 3,5 per cent in petrol sales and a whopping 24,2 per cent increase in diesel sales over the three year period. Therefore, Sanral’s claim that collections based on a fuel levy are ‘unsustainable’ since they are declining is nonsensical at best and an outright lie at worst. They seem to forget that these figures are publicly accessible, unlike their so-called ‘research’, which they like to keep a ‘State secret’ or make loose reference to when they present their arguments,” Dembovsky points out.

According to JPSA the implementing of e-tolling and scrapping of the fuel levy would be welcomed because this would mean that the price of petrol at the pump would come down by 212,5 cents per litre for petrol and 197,5 cents per litre on diesel.

“But it would appear that Sanral and Treasury wish to have their cake and eat it by retaining the fuel levy and additionally introducing eTolls, or what they refer to as the ‘user pays principle’. On this point, we are not going to see eye to eye – ever – and therefore we call upon Sanral and Treasury to make a choice. Either it’s going to be a fuel levy or Tolls/eTolls. They simply cannot have it both ways and continue to engage in false advertising like they do,” concluded Dembovsky.