Pretoria - The grace period for e-toll road users to settle their accounts and benefit from the discount, has been extended, Transport Minister Dipuo Peters announced during her Budget Vote speech, on Tuesday evening.
“In response to the call by the President earlier this year to address electronic payment billing challenges in Gauteng and make it easier for people to comply, we have come to the following reprieve for affected motorists in the following categories:
- The further extension of the payment period to avoid the Violations Processing Centre (VPC) process that would negatively affect vehicle owners.
- Users will have an extended payment period of 51 days from the day they pass through the gantry. They will also receive the time-of-day discount.
- A non-registered user will receive a 60% off the alternative tariff if they pay within 51 days,” she said.
The South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) VPC deals with all e-toll payments and debt collections.
Minister Peters said for registered road users, her department will introduce the following reprieves:
- 48% e-tag holder discount;
- Time of day discounts;
- Frequent user discounts; and
- R450 calendar month cap for class A2/light vehicles.
“We trust that these concessions will go some way towards lessening the financial burden on the part of users,” she said.
Minister Peters said government continues to conduct reviews of the progress being made and the challenges experienced since the introduction of Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project (GFIP) and electronic tolling in Gauteng.
“Through these regular reviews, we have been able to introduce certain relief measures to lessen the burden on users.”
Minister Peters said these would include exemptions for public transport, medical services and people living with disabilities.
Minister Peters said the user pay principle remains the policy of this government, and she urged users of the tolled Gauteng road network to continue paying for e-tolls.
“We are grateful for your cooperation and we encourage those who are still not registered for electronic payment to do so,” she said. - SAnews.gov.za
