SANRAL did not intend to mislead public

The South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL) says it was not the entity’s intention to mislead the public with its advert on the new dispensation of the e-toll system.

This after the Advertising Standards Authority of South Africa’s (ASASA) ruled that SANRAL’s advert omitted vital information which was likely to create a misleading expectation, “with listeners believing that they are already entitled to the various savings, when in fact this is not yet the case”.

The new dispensation made provision for a 60% discount on e-toll debt, and this was included in SANRAL advertising broadcast in May and June as part of an information campaign.

Complaints were made against the advert focusing on the government message on the basis that the promised discount was not in effect. ASASA ruled that the advertising was misleading.

According to SANRAL General Manager for Communications, Vusi Mona, the advert was intended to create awareness of the new dispensation of the e-toll system.

“This advert was flighted from May 28th and during the month of June following the Deputy President’s announcement of the new dispensation. The advert was aimed at communicating the message that Government has heard the people and responded with a new dispensation that included the 60% discount,” said Mona.

Mona said that when the details of the new dispensation were announced, it was made clear that the new system would be implemented in phases, and the adverts were not a public call to action.

Full implementation of the new dispensation required a number or regulatory and system changes which had to be accommodated through a phased roll-out, he explained.

“Through advertising, we sought to make the public aware of the provisions of the new plan that would assist them in clearing their e-toll debt and make e-tolls more cost effective for Gauteng road users,” said Mona. – SAnews.gov.za