New e-tolls dispensation will remain as means of funding
The announcement of the new e-toll dispensation made by Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, in May, was affirmation that the user-pay principle will be retained as the major funding method for the Gauteng e-toll system.
This is according to Sanral’s project manager, Alex van Niekerk, who spoke at a community media round table, on July 7.
“Government listened to the concerns raised during the proceedings of the specialist panel appointed by the Gauteng Premier and announced changes to the current toll regime that will provide users with more certainty about their monthly toll, and also cap it at much reduced monthly toll caps,” he said.
“In terms the new dispensation, all road-users – with, or without a Sanral account – will pay, but at an affordable, capped monthly rate, with light vehicle owners paying only 30c per kilometre.”
Van Niekerk stressed that retaining the user-pay principle ensures equity and efficiency in the allocation of resources and allows for future phases of the project to go ahead, certainty for investors and for new infrastructure to be financed and constructed timeously, sustaining the job creation growth.
“No gantries will be removed and all road-users will still be required to pay and settle their outstanding debts.
“A 60 per cent discount will be offered on the outstanding debt.”
Van Niekerk clarified that this discount is on the three times higher alternate tariff and, as a result, users who were compliant in the past still paid less for their toll than users who will settle their outstanding debt at the 60 per cent discount.
“Public transport operators such as taxis and buses will remain fully exempted, provided that their vehicles have an account with Sanral, are tagged for purposes of recognition and have completed the necessary application process,” he said.
He added that account holders are the first to benefit from the new dispensation, with reduced tariffs per kilometre and monthly caps on all classes of vehicles.
For light vehicles, the monthly cap is now R225 for Sanral account holders – down by 50 per cent from the R450 per month that has been levied until now.
Van Niekerk said existing payment options will remain in place and Sanral account holders will continue to have access to a wide range of choices on how to settle their bills.
“The introduction of the lowered standard tariff that is now the same as the e-tag tariff will provide relief to users who are not registered,” he explained.
“We remind road-users that all aspects of the new dispensation on the Gauteng e-roads will take place over the next 17 months.
“We are working with the Department of Transport and have already started with the administrative and legal processes to implement the new dispensation.
“The implementation requires software and operational changes that must be implemented in accordance with best practices; we want to test these changes to the system thoroughly to ensure a smooth transition.
“Other innovations, such as the 30 free gantry passes per annum, will be announced once the system and administrative requirements have been fulfilled.
“The new dispensation should ensure that every road-user will pay their fair share, while both the national and provincial governments will also make their contributions in accordance with the hybrid funding model that was proposed by the e-toll advisory panel.”
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