Transport minister offers e-toll payment extensions
Gauteng motorists have been granted an extension of the payment period for e-tolls.
Transport minister Dipuo Peters said motorists would have an extended payment period of 51 days, rather than the current seven days.
During this extended period motorists will receive 60 percent off the alternative tariff and also receive the time-of-day discount.
Peters made the announcement in the opening debate of her department’s budget vote, where she added that registered users would receive a range of discounts including a 48 percent e-tag-holder discount, a time-of-day discount, a frequent-user discount, and light vehicles would be capped at R450 a month.
The announcement comes in the wake of the establishment of a panel to review the impact of e-tolling and two prosecutors assigned by the National Prosecuting Authority to consult with the SA Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) over e-toll defaulters.
The Opposition to Urban Tolling slammed the contradictory actions that have been taken regarding e-tolling in recent weeks.
“It makes absolutely no sense whatsoever for one organ of state to pursue criminal prosecution over unpaid e-toll bills, while another organ of state is inviting public engagement to examine the impact that e-tolls is having on the productivity of the region, the social well-being of its people, and the implications for the environment,” the alliance said.
The alliance said the minister’s “reprieves” were in fact further evidence that the system was fundamentally ill-conceived and unworkable.
The alliance’s chairperson, Wayne Duvenage said the announcement was “another carrot to entice the public to buy into the ill-conceived scheme”.
Further, he said the prosecuting authorities had noted that it would be extremely difficult to prosecute defaulters successfully under the current regulations, terms and conditions.
“For example, Sanral must provide the user with an invoice and payment is expected in seven days to qualify for certain benefits.”
Duvenage questioned how road users, especially businesses, could pay within seven days without an invoice.
