Gauteng govt sets aside over R5bn to settle e-toll debt
This was revealed during the tabling of the 2025/2026 financial year budget by Gauteng Finance MEC Lebogang Maile on Tuesday morning.
From left: Mncedisi Vilakazi, Deputy Director General of Gauteng Treasury; Lebogang Maile, Gauteng Finance MEC; and Ncumisa Mnyani, Gauteng Treasury Head of Department. Picture: Thabiso Goba/Eyewitness News
JOHANNESBURG - The Gauteng government has set aside just over R5 billion to go towards settling its e-toll debt.
This was revealed during the tabling of the 2025/2026 financial year budget by Gauteng Finance MEC Lebogang Maile on Tuesday morning.
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In 2024, the provincial government scrapped the e-toll system on Gauteng roads.
Following the scrapping, the government agreed to pay 30% of the total R43 billion owed to the South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL).
Gauteng’s head of Treasury, Ncumisa Mnyani, said it is important for the province to meet its debt obligations.
“E-tolls has had a dent on our reserves as a province, hence we are looking at other avenues in terms of how do we augment our fiscus. At the same time, we can't be a responsible Treasury [if] after we table this budget, we have zero cents in our bank account. We need to have reserves because emergencies erupt, and we would have to respond.”