Plan to settle R43bn e-toll debt unclear: ‘Motorists are still obligated to pay’ - Lesufi
The electronic tolling system will be disconnected on Thursday at midnight. However, the gantries will remain on for safety and crime-fighting purposes.
Gauteng Premier Panyaza during a media briefing on the scrapping of e-tolls in the province held at the South African National Roads Agency's head office in Centurion on 10 April 2024. Picture: @GautengProvince on X
JOHANNESBURG - Plans of how the government aims to claw back debt incurred by e-toll users remain unclear.
This comes after the official scrapping of e-tolls was announced on Wednesday, during a briefing at the South African National Road Agency (SANRAL)'s head offices in Centurion.
The electronic tolling system will be disconnected on Thursday at midnight. However, the gantries will remain on for safety and crime-fighting purposes.
READ: Chikunga confirms official date & time for scrapping of e-tolls in Gauteng
While South Africans can breathe a sigh of relief, following a decade-long pushback against the e-toll scheme, the government is adamant it’s not the end of the road for those with outstanding e-tolling debts.
“Motorists are still obligated to pay, that’s an obligation in terms of the law. On how we will enforce or not enforce, that’s a matter we have not yet discussed, we’ll be attending to that as time goes on,” said Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi.
He added that the e-toll gantries would remain on as they will be used for policing and fighting crime.
“The gantries can be utilised for also speed enforcement and many other things, and that is the reason why we want the gantries to be kept and we will utilise them as the province.”
A memorandum of agreement has been signed by the Gauteng provincial government and the national transport and finance departments on how to effectively deal with the R43 billion e-toll debt.
MOTORISTS WILL STILL BE ABLE TO USE E-TOLL TAGS
While the e-toll system is set to be scrapped on Friday morning, motorists can still make use of the e-tags for other functions.
The e-tags are set to stay, allowing motorists to continue to use them for paying tariffs at toll gates across the country and for parking at designated malls, hotels and hospitals nationwide.
“Importantly, current valid accounts can still be used for payments at toll plazas and other value-added services including parking. This is critical for the ongoing long-term benefits of interoperability,” said Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga.