Gauteng e-toll saga remains unresloved amid new pressure to scrap project

JOHANNESBURG - The controversial e-toll saga in Gauteng remains largely unresolved amid renewed pressure to scrap the failed project.

Despite pushback from motorists, Gauteng road users are expected to dig deeper into their pockets next month when new toll tariffs take effect.

This is after the South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL) announced a 6.25% tariff hike for tolls on all national roads including Gauteng’s e-tolls.

Gauteng government has missed a number of its self-imposed deadlines to finalise the issue of the controversial e-tolls.

This includes plans to switch off the massive overhead gantries by December 2022.

This means the scrapping of the e-toll system still hangs in the balance pending an agreement to settle the hefty R43-billion bill to SANRAL.

National Treasury is expected to absorb 70% of the debt.

But it’s unclear where the Gauteng government will source the funds to cover the balance.

CEO of lobby group Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) Wayne Duvenage said the indecision about e-tolls is bad news for motorists.

“Everybody who is billed through the e-toll system, their fees will go up based on the inflationary increases that SANRAL is applying from the 1st of March. Since 90% of people aren’t paying, this doesn’t affect them but the companies, the business and individuals that are paying are going to be paying more.”

In addition to a debt repayment plan - the latest proposal is also expected to include the switch-off dates or plans to repurpose the gantries.