The Minister of Transport, Hon. Sindisiwe Chikunga, the Gauteng Premier, Mr. Panyaza Lesufi, Board Chairperson of the South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL), Mr. Themba Mhambi and the SANRAL CEO, Mr. Reginald Demana hosted a media briefing on Wednesday, 10 April 2024, to address the practical implications of the scrapping of e-tolls.
According to Hon. Chikunga, the process of e-tolls started in December 2013 after the upgraded parts of important national roads in Gauteng which had come a few years before that (in 2008) to ensure that the economic hub of South Africa is not jeopardised by poor roads. The system of e-tolling was implemented after some consultation had taken place.
However, Gauteng motorists and other stakeholders expressed concerns that more extensive consultation and alternative approaches could have been pursued regarding the implementation of e-tolls, leading to the eventual decision to scrap them in the province.
An overview of the process of cancellation will unfold as follows:
- On 11 April 2024 at 23:59:59, road users will no longer be charged for the use of the Gauteng e-toll routes.
- The obligation to pay e-tollremains till midnight on 11 April 2024.
- Road-users will not be required to do anything when e-tolling is cancelled.
- Importantly, ‘current valid accounts’ can still be used for payments at toll plazas and other Value-Added Services (i.e Parking). This is critical for the ongoing, long-term benefit of inter-operability.
- The tag beeps will stop after midnight on 11 April 2024.
- The gantry lights and cameraswill remain on for road safety purposes.
- The e-toll website will be updated with respect to the cancellation, including Mobility/Tag account functionality for services, i.e. interoperability and parking, etc.
- The e-toll stores will remain open as the tag can still be used for interoperability, account queries and other potential transport related services that will be determined in due course. The e-toll branding will be removed in phases.
- E-toll invoices will be rolled up until the last day and issued up until this period. Due to potential delays in the postal system, invoices will still be received some time after 12 April 2024. However, no transactions post-midnight on 11 April 2024 will appear on the invoice or statement.
The Minister concluded with a highly positive remark for the people of South Africa, assuring them that the government listens to their concerns and takes action to address them whenever feasible. “We understand that the resolution of this issue might have taken longer than some people wanted, but it involved complex negotiations which were handled in a mature and professional manner by all concerned.”, Chikunga added.
