The South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) and its appointed debt collection agency, Electronic Tolling Collection (ETC), have started issuing summons to non-e-toll payers.
Mark Ridgway, chief operating officer of ETC, says: “The ongoing assumption that collection activity surrounding the new dispensation (less 60% campaign) is illegal, is patently misguided.”
This is after some have claimed that the manner in which Sanral monitors the amount of times a vehicle passes underneath a gantry, is not legal.
“Payment of e-tolls is a legal requirement and any delinquency in this regard will be met with consequences,” says Ridgway.
“It is Sanral’s intention to pursue non-payers and to collect outstanding public monies due.
“In this vein, civil legal collection action is being prepared and within the next few weeks Sanral intends to follow through on its communicated consequence for non-payment.”
Ridgway states the facts by adding that offenders will experience intensified collection activity, the listing of vehicles and legal action.
“Road users must be aware that any inaction based on a wait-and-see attitude or a belief that e-tolls owing will magically disappear, is misguided and that non-payment will result in the loss of once-off 60% discount on historical debt outstanding and the potential of additional legal fees being incurred.
“It is the duty of every citizen to uphold the law and to ensure that their compliance is not selective.”
In conclusion, Ridgway states that non-payment of tolls is illegal and road users are invited to ensure that they comply with legislation and take advantage of the limited discount offer.
“Road users must not be misled by what they read as propounded by the uninformed.”
Vusi Mona, spokesman for Sanral, says: “We would like to add that it is disconcerting to note that road users are encouraged to break the law.”
“It should be noted that the payment of toll is legislated and the non-payment of e-toll is an offence,” says Mona.
“Road users should weigh up the risk of dealing with the consequences of the non-payment of e-toll versus accepting the opinion of e-toll detractors who admit on their website that ‘being a member is not a guarantee of representation’ and that they are ‘not a law firm or a body of lawyers’.”
