Calls for Parly to approve transport bill

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Pretoria – Transport Minister Ben Martins has asked the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) to approve the Transport Laws and Related Matters Amendment Bill to enable the state to charge motorists for using the freeways.

Addressing members of the NCOP on Wednesday, Martins said it was important that the bill be approved by the NCOP to allow the government to fund upgrades through the user-pay method, as funding the country’s 700 000 kilometre road network from the public purse is unsustainable.

Martins’s statement comes after concerns were raised through the media that the bill was being rushed through Parliament without the appropriate procedures being followed.

Media reports indicated that the SA National Roads Agency (Sanral) was planning to implement e-tolling on Gauteng freeways by June.  

Martins said passing the bill would make it easier for government to implement e-tolling and to improve the effectiveness of e-tolling and enforcement.

“The non-collection of tolls may impact negatively on the ability of Sanral to raise capital for infrastructure development projects.

“The bill must be seen in the context of government’s plans to fund its envisaged infrastructure programme,” he said.

Martins also said the upgrades that were carried out as part of the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project (GFIP) had assisted in reducing traffic congestion during peak hours, and cited a study that showed that freeway extensions have saved the economy millions of rands, with travel times being reduced by 50%.

“The electronic toll collection system, popularly known as e-toll, is a mechanism for the collection of tolls without disturbing the flow of traffic, at least cost. This system is already in use in the east of Pretoria on the Platinum toll highway, and is programmed to also be implemented at other existing toll plazas.”

The bill was first published in the Government Gazette on 19 December 2008 and again on 15 March 2010 for public comment, Martins said.

It was then published for public comment by the Transport Portfolio Committee on 15 August 2012.

After subsequent processes, the National Assembly adopted the bill and referred it to the NCOP.

“The inability to collect revenue would damage the credit reputation of Sanral amongst investors, who may price the bonds higher to cover this risk.

“This in turn would likely have a negative impact on both Sanral and the government’s credit ratings.

“I kindly request your consideration of the bill as submitted and the approval thereof,” Martins said. – SAnews.gov.za