Subscribe

E-toll R1bn 'not surprising, not recoverable'

Martin Czernowalow
By Martin Czernowalow, Contributor.
Johannesburg, 28 Jul 2014
The R1 billion outstanding for e-tolls will not be recovered, say groups opposed to the system.
The R1 billion outstanding for e-tolls will not be recovered, say groups opposed to the system.

Groups opposed to Gauteng's e-tolling system say they are not at all surprised that unpaid toll fees have ballooned to more than R1 billion, and predict the situation will only get worse for the South African National Roads Agency (Sanral).

In response to questions by the official opposition, the Democratic Alliance, transport minister Dipuo Peters revealed on Friday that, as of 31 May, the unaudited amount owed by motorists for more than 90 days was R156.6 million, while the bulk - R995.4 million - was owed for a period of less than 90 days. Peters stated the figures were based on the alternative user tariff published in the gazette and not the lower e-tag tariff.

However, the Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance (Outa) and the Justice Project SA (JPSA) say the outstanding R1 billion is unrecoverable and will continue to grow if e-tolling is allowed to continue in its current format. Both groups also believe that a switch to the fuel levy, as an alternative source of funding for the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project, is now "inevitable".

An e-tolls advisory panel, established by newly-appointed Gauteng premier David Makhura, has started a review of the e-tolling system, and this process could take up to four-and-a-half months. The main outcome of the review could be a funding model switch, as wide-spread non-compliance by motorists continues unabated against the system that went live last December.

Growing strain

Meanwhile, it appears Sanral has gone to ground amid the deepening crisis, and there seems to be growing tension between the agency and government. Last week, Sanral again tried to jolt motorists into paying up with an announcement by the National Prosecuting Authority that it had appointed two prosecutors to work with the roads agency to deal with e-toll defaulters.

However, the agency was forced to backtrack when Peters ordered it to hold off on prosecuting motorists who have unpaid toll bills, as several outstanding issues need to be resolved first, such as inaccurate billing.

Apart from a terse statement last week, confirming Sanral would obey the minister's call, the agency's spokesperson, Vusi Mona, has not reacted to Peters' update on the outstanding fees. He could not be reached for comment this morning.

Peters also announced a reprieve for e-toll users, who now have 51 days from the day they passed through the gantry, as opposed to the current seven days, to settle their bills.

Outa chairperson Wayne Duvenage says the reprieve is only expected to see the already-low e-toll compliance rate - currently estimated to be at about 40% to 45% - dwindle even further. The system needs a 93% compliance rate to fulfil its debt obligations, and Duvenage says the agency needed prosecutions to jolt motorists into paying up.

"But this is not on the cards," he says, adding that the growing tensions between Sanral and government makes for a worrying situation.

JPSA chairperson Howard Dembovsky says it is not surprising that relations between Sanral and government are taking strain. "Sanral went to great lengths to convince national government that this is the way to go. But e-tolls are getting nowhere.

"It does not work, so they should get rid of it [the current e-toll model]," he says.

Dembovsky is also hopeful a switch to the fuel levy will be recommended by the review panel and says this should happen fast. "Every day that goes by just adds to the prejudice incurred by government."

Share