E-toll to commence on December 3
Sanral has welcomed the announcement by the minister of Transport that tolling on the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project (GFIP) will begin on December 3.
“This is good news as Sanral can now get on with its business to build, maintain and improve South Africa’s national road network,” says Nazir Alli, the agency’s CEO.
He adds that they now have certainty as to when tolling on the inner Gauteng highways can begin.
“Sanral can now service the debt it had incurred to upgrade these vital roads.
“The tolling system is up and running at the moment and we, therefore, expect a smooth beginning to actually collecting tolls on the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project (GFIP).”
He says that it is important to note that of the more than 700 000km of roads in the country, only 19 704 are part of the national network and, thus, Sanral’s responsibility.
“Of the latter only 16 per cent are tolled amounting to 3 120 km. Of the tolled roads, only 201km form part of the GFIP. The figures are important to keep a proper perspective,” says Alli.
With all uncertainty out of the way, motorists are encouraged to obtain an E-tag.
“It is the right thing to do and also easier and cheaper than using the roads without a tag,” adds Alli.
Reaction to E-toll:
Democratic Alliance
According to Mmusi Maimane, DA Gauteng Premier candidate, it is a sad day for this province and for South Africa that the widespread public opposition to this system has been blatantly ignored by government.
“And this is just the beginning.”
The GFIP will ultimately cover around 560km of the freeway network in Gauteng.
“Considering that the first phase of this system only covers around 185km, the network is set to more than double.
“Future routes are expected to be along the N14 Krugersdorp Highway, sections of the M1, the N14 to Pretoria, N3 to Heidelberg, the R59 and sections of the N12,” says Maimane.
Whether directly or indirectly, the majority of Gauteng residents will eventually pay the cost of E-tolling. Residents who are not regular road users will feel the pinch through increased food and living expenses.
“I know that many people are feeling very angry about this announcement and I encourage you to take this frustration to the ballot box next year and vote out the government that has enforced this system on an unwilling province.
“I will continue to fight this system both now and if elected as Premier in the 2014 elections.”
Maimane adds that this will include current and any future phases of E-tolling.
“Together we can bring an end to this injustice that has been enforced on Gauteng.”
Outa
Outa says that they are disappointed that the government has decided to commence with E-tolling.
Wayne Duvenage, chairperson for Outa, says that E-tolling is a very complex system and cannot succeed without a high level of compliance.
“There has been massive rejection from across the board, yet authorities simply continue to ignore this issue.”
He adds that they will shortly convey new initiatives to empower society with civil courage to stand fast and reject this ill-conceived policy.
“In the meantime, we point out that it is not a legal requirement to get an E-tag and people must do what they believe is right to resist this farce, which is clearly not in the best interests of the people of South Africa,” says Duvenage.
IMATU
The Independent Municipal and Allied Trade Union (IMATU) is very disappointed by the announcement that E-tolls will commence from December 3.
“IMATU is saddened that alternative funding mechanisms for the GFIP have not been explored. Public consultation revealed huge opposition to this model of E-tolling, the way in which the programme has been funded and the way in which it is going to be rollout.
“We are very concerned about the effects these additional costs will have on its members and South African citizens in general. E-toll tariffs will increase the cost of transport and doing business in the province, which will in turn affect the prices of goods and services.
“Many South Africans will have to dig deeper into their already dwindling disposable income to pay this additional levy,” says IMATU Gen-Secretary, Johan Koen.
He adds that the process of E-tolling has been pushed by government as the best method to collect fees to fund the GFIP and create employment.
There has, however, been large-scale rejection of the system, because of high operation costs, lack of transparency and allegations of fraudulent selection and procurement processes.
IMATU is further troubled by claims that existing gantries on the Gauteng highways are only the first phase of the E-tolling project. Documents relating to the E-toll tariff structure do not advise of specific annual increases, creating further apprehension around the possibility of runaway tariff escalation.
“While we firmly support the vision of a reliable, efficient and quality public transport system, further taxation of select road users is not necessarily the solution. Alternative funding mechanisms that do not place such a burden on select users should have been thoroughly explored. We need definite answers relating to whether e-tolling will be expanded in the Gauteng as well as other provinces,” adds Koen.
QASA
Ari Seirlis, CEO OF QuadPara Association of South Africa (QASA), says that the E-toll will go ahead on the same day as the International Day for Persons with Disabilities.
“A week later, on December 10, we celebrate International Human Rights Day, which the United Nations proclaimed in 1950 ‘to bring to the attention of the peoples of the world’ the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as the common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations.”
He says that to imagine Gauteng motorists departing for their year-end break with the South African Government facing charges of human rights violations against people with disabilities is a crying shame.
“The disability sector instead of celebrating these days, as we usually do, will now be forced to respond vigorously to this discriminatory infrastructure, which will immobilise the disability community.”
He adds that Sanral has misled the disability community that there will be a concession in order to encourage the disability community to register for an E-tag.
“Further discrimination of a more serious nature is that people with mobility impairments who do not own vehicles, do not have opportunity to own an E-tag which would give them an exemption, to be passed on to the driver who is voluntarily giving them a lift.
“QASA will seek the intervention from the Human Rights Commission to ensure justice is done and to ensure that the fundamental human needs of people with disabilities, especially people with mobility impairments are not impoverished through this E-toll system.“
Is this for all coloured people???herd the black taxies don’t have to pay e toll that is bull shit and they get away with that why should the whits only pay e toll they stuff up our roads e toll are a big joke they will use the money for other things not fixing the roads who are they kidding