The debate around e-tolling is now over, said the Gauteng Provincial Government at the launch of the e-toll registration of government vehicles at the G-Fleet Management office yesterday.
Speaking at the registration of 6 000 G-Fleet vehicles yesterday, transport MEC Ismail Vadi said, from government's side, the debates are over. “We are not here to debate e-tolling. We now need to get Gauteng citizens to register and get e-tags. From our side we are determined to roll out e-tolling.”
Head of department at the Gauteng roads and public transport department, Mavela Dlamini, and Gauteng premier, Nomvula Mokonyane, agreed, saying e-tolling is about the revenue needed to develop the province, and government is now going to implement and not argue. “Today, we are saying it's here, it's happening. We will register our own vehicles. It takes a good, responsible public servant to defend a government decision,” said Mokonyane.
“We are delighted that the Gauteng government has taken the step to become e-toll compliant by registering its vehicles with e-tags as this will keep its operating costs at a minimum and eventually translate into savings for the taxpayer - savings that can be channelled towards further service delivery,” said Nazir Alli, CEO of the SA National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral).
Lawful protest
Reiterating that e-tolling will commence on 30 April, Sanral encouraged road users to become e-toll ready by registering for an e-toll account and obtaining an e-tag to be eligible for the minimum discount benefit of 48%.
“We've come a long way from where we started. It's about a 20c/km concession. There are further time-of-day discounts, the exemptions, the capping, so I think we're not inconsiderate. We've heard public concerns,” said Vadi.
Alli said the tariffs are inclusive of VAT. “The inflationary increase of this project is minimal at about 0.2%. We'd like people to register for e-tags so they can enjoy the benefits of the discounts. In the region of 320 000 people have already registered for e-tolling to date.”
The Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) last week embarked on a nationwide protest against e-tolling. Addressing possible future marches against e-tolls taking place on Gauteng's highways, Mokonyane said: “We know what the laws of the country are in terms of moving on the highways. Whatever protests people have they must carry out within the confines of the law.”
Licence hold
There have been several concerns around e-tolling, apart from the price of the tariffs. These included Sanral having access to motorists' bank accounts once they register.
“Let's dispel a myth. You do not have to give us your banking details. There are different forms that will be used for paying this thing. Banking details are not required if you use the prepaid option. With top-up you set the limit, not Sanral. Anyone who feels uncomfortable giving their banking details doesn't have to,” said Alli.
He added that the e-tag cannot be cloned or used on the wrong vehicle. Also, the e-toll system will be able to pick up if duplicate or fake licence plates are used on a vehicle.
“In May, additional benefits of the e-toll system will begin. Towing and medical services will be sent to accident scenes through the Incident Management System.”
Government does not yet have in place a set procedure for prosecuting those that do not comply with the system and pay tariffs, but Alli says there will be no fines. “Let me try and dispel an urban legend. You won't get fined for not paying tolls. When you go to renew your licences you will have to pay the outstanding toll fees and any administration costs.”
Caring government
Dlamini said government kept emphasising that the World Cup will come and go, but its real agenda is for national development. “It's incidental that the World Cup catalyst worked in our favour.
“Not everybody is being straight-jacketed into e-tolls. There are other options for those who don't want to pay or can't afford to” and this is why there will be a focus on public transport development, said Dlamini.
Mokonyane called on all Gauteng citizens to cooperate. “It is a system that is amenable to all the different income groups. All these things we do in the interest of the people of SA. Our people deserve better. There are many other things we are doing without expecting people to pay, because we are a caring government.”
Milking motorists
Transport minister Sibusiso Ndebele yesterday instructed the board of Sanral to ensure all information pertaining to the upgrading of the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project (GFIP), for which e-tolling was established, is made public.
According to the department, the minister's instruction follows the handing over of documents relating to the GFIP, by Alli to Cosatu yesterday, where certain parts of the documents were made illegible. “We have also instructed the board to call Alli to account in this regard, as we do not agree with access to selective information in this matter,” said Ndebele.
The Democratic Alliance says in October 2011 it made an application to Sanral for full disclosure of this information under the Promotion of Access to Information Act. “This resulted in Sanral verbally stating they would require payment of about R1 million for the cost of providing this information. At last, we will be in a position to find out exactly who is making all the money on the GFIP and ORT [open road tolling] and why the Gauteng motorist is being financially milked by Sanral.”
E-tolling to be legally challenged
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