Following hundreds of complaints against the roads agency by irate members of the public, the alliance has written to the Public Protector, asking her office to act urgently on the matter.
“The various media channels, and in particular social media, are alive with a multitude of claims of inaccurate e-toll bills and demands for so called ‘violations’, along with breaches in the security of people’s private information,” alliance chairperson Wayne Duvenage said.
The tolling alliance said it wants the roads agency to face its critics in a “responsible and mature manner”.
According to Duvenage, the alliance has received close to 1000 complaints of “threatening” SMSes demanding payment, as well as incorrect bills.
“The public needs protection and the Public Protector needs to step in and do something,” he said.
The Public Protector’s office had acknowledged receipt of the alliance’s complaint, but had yet to indicate whether it would get involved.
Duvenage said the tolling alliance hopes that through a mediation process, the Public Protector would meet with all the stakeholders, as well as the roads agency and the Department of Transport, to raise any questions and concerns regarding e-tolling – and compel the roads agency to provide answers.
