The SA National Roads Agency stands to lose millions yet again, this time through e-tag refunds.
The SA National Consumer Union (SANCU) has encouraged motorists who have already registered for the controversial e-tolling system to close their accounts and request refunds of their e-tags.
The latest official figures of e-tag registrations show the number to be about 500 000, according to reports. At R50 an e-tag, this would mean Sanral would have to refund up to R25 million.
Don't spend
SANCU says the e-tags are still on sale and several consumers are sending through queries to the union to enquire if they should buy them.
"There is no point in buying e-tags or registering for e-tolling at this stage as e-tolling is currently on hold for an indefinite period, following the successful interdict obtained by the Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance (OUTA), of which SANCU is a founder member," says Clif Johnston, SANCU's vice-chairman.
He adds that motorists should rather await the outcome of the review before spending any money on e-tolling.
Delaying refunds
Sanral is encouraging motorists who already have e-toll accounts to keep them open pending a final decision.
“There are existing toll routes which already have electronic toll collection systems in place and electronic toll collection lanes will also be implemented at other existing toll plazas in the near future. Your e-tag will be working with all these existing, as well as the other existing toll routes as they become electronically inter-linked.”
However, SANCU says according to new terms and conditions issued by the agency, customers have the right to close their accounts at any time.
“Refunds may not be immediate though, as Sanral's rules give them 60 days to do this. Also, refunds are only payable into a bank account. This is grossly unfair. What about the cash customer who does not have a bank account? Will Sanral refuse the refund?" says Johnston.
The union's advice to those who already have e-toll accounts is to return their e-tags and close their accounts now in order not to delay the refunds any further.
“Unused e-tags run the risk of being misplaced, and Sanral will charge the account holder R150 for every e-tag that is not returned when closing the account.”
Sanral says motorists who wish to close their e-toll accounts and return their e-tags, can do so by going into one of the e-toll Customer Service Outlets. “However, we kindly request that returns are not made to the retailers.”
Funds requested
OUTA has begun a fund-raising campaign to help cover the legal costs of its case against e-tolling.
About two weeks after achieving the historical interdict to halt e-tolls in Gauteng, pending a full court review, OUTA says it initially estimated a cost of around R1 million.
However, OUTA chairperson Wayne Duvenage says additional legal resources were appointed to tackle the sheer volume of work required. “As the work and legal battle developed during the two months of March and April 2012, we realised the gravity and size of this case was far greater than we had imagined.”
The organisation says over the past few months it has received hundreds of calls and e-mails enquiring about where and how the public and businesses could contribute to funding these legal costs.
“We have received the outstanding legal notes and the full cost of this case has amounted to approximately R3.9 million. After deducting the initial R800 000 sponsorship raised from Savrala [Southern Africa Vehicle Rental and Leasing Associations] members, we now have a target of approximately R3.1 million to raise.”
OUTA adds that road users can contribute to the OUTA legal costs fund-raising drive via direct deposit to its banking account at Absa, Rosebank (632005) with the account number 4079154375. Contributors can also visit the OUTA Web site (www.outa.co.za) to log into the PayFast (secure online payment) options, or contribute R20 by sending an SMS with the word NOETOLL to 40773.
“Once we have achieved the target, we will turn off the payment channels to negate an oversubscription.”
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