The e-toll system that has had Gauteng up in arms for well over two years may be a relatively newly-implemented system, but the idea behind it dates back 18 years.
This is according to transport minister Dipuo Peters, who presented the Department of Transport's (DOT's) views on e-tolls to the advisory panel set up to review the economic impact of e-tolling, which went live on 3 December last year.
Over the next three days, the DOT, Treasury and the SA National Roads Agency (Sanral) plan to "set the record straight and clear up the misconceptions about e-tolling in the Gauteng Freeway Improvement System".
Peters opened the department's presentation today by saying it would, over the review presentation period, show discussions around the tolling of Gauteng freeways started in 1996 "and, importantly, were initiated by the Gauteng provincial government".
As far back as October 1997, she said, the province's Department of Transport and Public Works published a report dubbed "Development of a toll strategy". She pointed out that Sanral was only established in April 1998.
"The recommendations in that report, and I quote, 'required that the province accept the proposed strategy of a toll road network'.
"That report stated the province had investigated types of toll systems and toll collection systems and 'it was found that both open and closed systems should be considered'."
Further citing the report, she read: "It is considered that virtually all toll collection will ultimately be by electronic means, but initially this will not be so."
Peters went on to say Sanral merely implemented the open road tolling (e-tolling) project the province spoke about in 1997, adding: "It is a moot point whether the province would have implemented open road tolling and electronic tolling in the manner Sanral did, but what cannot be disputed is that credit for the concepts of open road tolling and electronic tolling must be shared with the Gauteng province, if the 1996 report is anything to go by."
She concluded her opening remarks by saying: "We live in a constitutional democracy and while debate is encouraged, lawlessness can never be. The Gauteng e-toll project is lawful - organised labour, political parties, interest groups and the public must understand that."
Peters conceded e-tolling was not "the perfect solution", but said doing nothing was not an option.
"We are hoping our engagement with the panel over the next three days will affirm the truths, complete the half-truths and jettison the lies."
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