Pretoria - Gauteng Transport MEC Ismail Vadi has welcomed the new dispensation on e-tolling, announced last week.
“The Department of Roads and Transport welcomes the announcement last Wednesday by the Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, the Minister of Transport, Dipuo Peters and Premier David Makhura,” MEC Vadi said on Tuesday.
He said the new dispensation marks an important step forward on a matter that has been contentious for some time. In essence, it strikes a careful balance between three issues, namely:
- Improving road infrastructure for socio-economic development purposes;
- The utilsation of the ‘user-pay’ principle in partly funding road infrastructure; and
- Ensuring affordability for people.
The new dispensation is fair, administratively simpler and more sustainable. It is based on the recommendations of the advisory panel on the socio-economic impact of electronic tolling on Gauteng residents, which called for a hybrid funding model that would significantly reduce tariffs.
To ensure the e-toll system is equitable, affordable, sustainable and more efficient, government has approved the following:
- A single, reduced tariff of 30 cents per kilometre will apply to all motorists using the e-tolled network in the province.
- The monthly cap has been reduced to R225 a month for standard vehicles.
- There will be no charge for infrequent users who make less than 30 gantry passes a year.
- E-toll fees that are currently outstanding will be discounted by 60% and arrangements should be made within six months by motorists to settle their accounts.
- There will be a monthly cap on the penalty for accounts in arrears.
- Public transport operators with valid operating permits will be exempted from paying e-toll fees.
To simplify the process and ensure better integration of road management systems, motorists will need to settle any outstanding e-toll fees before vehicle license discs are issued.
Arrangements will be made for vehicle owners to pay their toll fees at SANRAL kiosks, Post Offices, provincial licensing offices, retailers, vehicle dealerships and online.
Both national and provincial government will make contributions to fund some of the operational costs associated with the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project so as to ease the financial burden on people.
“The new dispensation shows that we are a responsive and a responsible government; a government that is sensitive to the concerns of its citizens.
“We are a government that is solution-oriented. We are a government that will work hard to build an integrated, reliable and affordable transport system that meets the needs of the people of Gauteng and the country,” he said. - SAnews.gov.za
