Taxis and billing problems highlight e-toll complexity
Following pressure from the taxi industry in 2011, Sanral offered full exemption for taxis on the tolled roads, expecting their threat of freeway blockades would, accordingly, abate.
“Today, some two years later, it doesn’t take much to see through the administrative bungling and e-toll complexities, to realise why the taxi industry is protesting against e-tolls, even though they are supposed to be exempted from the costs thereof,” says John Clarke, spokesperson for Outa.
He adds that the sheer weight of a cumbersome system which is fraught with maladministration and complex relationships is starting to crack.
“Monday’s taxi protest is an indication of additional complexities arising from an unregulated industry, onto which Sanral is trying for force a cumbersome, regulated process.
“While we disapprove of the disruptions and damage to property, the many taxi drivers have every right to feel aggrieved by Sanral’s attempt to keep them at bay on the e-toll issue.”
Outa also notes President Jacob Zuma’s comment on the e-toll billing errors this week.
“While this indicates that the billing crisis is now being taken seriously at the highest echelons of Government, Outa would have expected President Zuma to call Sanral to book for their threatening and disrespectful communication methods to herd users to buy e-tags,” Clarke comments.
He says Sanral needs to urgently resolve this dire situation, whereby innocent people are being implicated and dragged into the net of intimidation and threats of criminal enforcement.
“We trust the authorities will now realise that Sanral have sold them an inefficient, expensive, irrational and unworkable system, which has given rise to the country’s biggest single issue of resistance and friction between the state and its citizens in recent times,” says Clarke.
Outa calls on the authorities to suspend this ill-conceived plan, before the unintended consequences become too costly and dire for our country to endure.
Sanral CEO Nazir Alli says they have been receiving a number of complaints from road-users about incorrect billing and the receipt of bills when they have never used the e-roads.
“We are taking these complaints very seriously and the whole matter is receiving our attention,” he adds.
Alli says some of the problems concerning the billing emanate from incorrect data on the e-Natis system and a few instances of cloned vehicle licence plates.
This results in notices and invoices being sent out to the wrong persons.
He is appealing to road-users to make sure that their motor vehicles are registered and recorded on the national traffic information system, otherwise known as e-Natis.
“The law requires motorists to register and licence their motor vehicles within 21 days after acquiring them or changing ownership,” he explains.
“The information we use for billing is taken from e-Natis; through this project we have an opportunity to update and clean up the e-Natis data and would appeal to motorists for their cooperation.”
