Pretoria - The e-tolling system in Gauteng, which was due to commence next month, has been placed on hold.
Many Gauteng motorists have been threatening to boycott the entire tolling system by refusing to pay the fees or register for their e-toll accounts to get their e-tags. Numerous petitions against the system were circulated to have the system halted.
Registrations kicked off in November, with SANRAL urging motorists to become "e-toll ready" by ensuring they have an e-tag, register for an e-toll account and fit their e-tag on the inside of their windscreen.
Motorists have complained about the unaffordability of toll tariffs, despite government reassessing them and making them cheaper. New tariffs were approved by Cabinet in August last year.
Under the new prices, motorcycles would pay 24 cents per kilometer, from the initial proposed 29 cents. Light motor vehicles (class A2) will pay 40 cents, while medium vehicles (class B) will pay R1. Longer vehicles (class C) will pay R2 a kilometre.
However, commuter taxis and buses approved by authorities would not have to pay toll fees.
In a statement on Friday, SANRAL's newly appointed board said it had met with Transport Minister Sibusiso Ndebele in Pretoria on Thursday where the matter was discussed.
"With regards to e-tolling in Gauteng, the board is currently seized with this very serious matter and will address the current stakeholder concerns and issues raised in the petitions submitted to the minister.
"The board is committed to meeting all its obligations to the stakeholders, and is exploring different modalities," it said.
The SANRAL board said it would present its findings to the minister, who would in turn present a report to Cabinet.
"Therefore, e-tolling in Gauteng will not commence during February 2012," said SANRAL.
