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Sanral readies 6 500 summonses

Admire Moyo
By Admire Moyo, ITWeb's news editor.
Johannesburg, 19 Aug 2016
E-tolling on Gauteng highways continues to meet with resistance from motorists.
E-tolling on Gauteng highways continues to meet with resistance from motorists.

The South African National Roads Agency (Sanral) has prepared approximately 6 500 summonses targeting e-toll defaulters.

According to Vusi Mona, general manager for communications at Sanral, the summonses are in various stages of being issued in terms of court processes and serving by the sheriff of the court.

E-tolling on the Gauteng freeway system started on 3 December 2013, after much controversy. However, it has been met with resistance from motorists.

In April this year, the roads agency started sending out summonses to motorists who refuse to settle their e-toll debt. Since the introduction of the 60% discount of e-toll debt from November 2015 to May 2016, Sanral has made it clear it will also introduce a process of debt collection against serial defaulters.

Sanral introduced a Less60 campaign last year, which ran for six months, coming to a close on 2 May. Sanral says over 300 000 e-toll defaulters in Gauteng took advantage of the discount. Transport minister Dipuo Peters then extended the deadline on the discount offer by an additional 10 working days - to 17 May.

Tagging along

Mona notes there are over 1.3 million vehicles with an account with an e-tag, in good standing. In total, he adds, over 1.4 million vehicles are tagged.

"Currently, in the violations processing centre, there are just over 2.9 million accounts with a balance owing. However, 1.2 million thereof owe less than R500 each. They do not need an e-tag, but it is good value for money," he points out.

"The money is spent on the project - it is not misappropriated or being funnelled to other coffers. It is also worth emphasising that 78% of Gauteng e-toll account-holders pay less than R100 per month for their toll fees."

Sanral says as of June 2016, it collected R65 million from e-tolls with a target of R101 million. When the scheme started in 2013, it collected R37 million in December.

"As there is a duty on all of us to pay tax, so is there a duty on Sanral to collect what it is owed. The biggest challenge is the mistaken perceptions around e-tolls and what it is used for. The toll fees are needed to ensure the sustainable maintenance and operations of the Gauteng freeways," Mona says.

As there is a duty on all of us to pay tax, so is there a duty on Sanral to collect what it is owed, says Sanral's Vusi Mona.
As there is a duty on all of us to pay tax, so is there a duty on Sanral to collect what it is owed, says Sanral's Vusi Mona.

E-tolls opponent, the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa), says 152 of its members have received the summonses so far. Outa chairman Wayne Duvenage says the organisation is ready to take on Sanral in legal proceedings with its members.

Duvenage says e-toll collections have been going down of late and he believes Sanral will never reach its target of collecting R260 million in a month. He pointed out Sanral is collecting an average of R67 million per month this year.

"The e-tolls scheme has failed," he said. "Sanral has set a 93% revenue collection target but this is not happening. They have never collected R120 million in a month. Our lawyers are currently meeting with Sanral lawyers over the summonses."

According to Duvenage, outstanding e-toll debt has risen even further since September 2015, and is now estimated at around R8 billion - and climbing.

E-toll exemptions

Peters, meanwhile, has gazetted an e-toll exemption for a certain class of vehicles ferrying disabled people.

In a Government Gazette dated 5 August' the minister exempted' in term of section 27(3) of the Sanral Act and the National Roads Act' Class A2 vehicles (light motor vehicles) adapted for use by persons with disabilities.

Sanral will never reach its target of collecting R260 million in a month, says Outa chairman Wayne Duvenage.
Sanral will never reach its target of collecting R260 million in a month, says Outa chairman Wayne Duvenage.

There is also an exemption for vehicles used by qualifying non-government organisations (NGOs) or non-profit organisations (NPOs) established for purposes of healthcare; persons with disabilities; welfare or humanitarian purposes; or education and development; and where the vehicle is owned or used by the NGO or NPO.

Mona explains the Sanral Act allows for applications for categories of vehicles and categories of users to apply for exemptions.

"Applications will be considered on their merits. An application was made to exempt vehicles that ferry people with disabilities - this application was found to have merit and the exemption notice and procedures duly gazetted as required by law," he says.

There is also a full rebate for vehicles used by persons to convey persons with disabilities, which includes persons who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments, and includes medical conditions such as autism, mental health, epilepsy and loss of hearing. The vehicles must be registered with Sanral and have an e-tag fitted.

The exemption and rebates as defined in the Government Gazette are only applicable from 5 August. Therefore, all outstanding toll fees incurred prior to this date are still payable.

Other vehicles exempted from e-tolls are SAPS vehicles, SANDF vehicles, Metro Police vehicles for the Tshwane, Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni metropolitan areas, emergency vehicles including ambulance services and fire brigade vehicles, and qualifying commuter public transport.

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