The South African National Roads Agency (Sanral) has responded to accusations by the SA National Consumer Union (Sancu) that it applied for an exemption from the National Credit Act (NCA) in relation to the Gauteng Freeway Development Project.
In statement, Sanral says that it does not qualify as a credit provider under the NCA.
Sanral spokesperson Vusi Mona says a clause within the Transport and Related Matters Amendment Bill exempts Sanral from the NCA and was drafted to clear up any possible confusion around Sanral and the NCA.
"It must be understood that the incidental credit accrued as part of the e-tolling system does not fit the definition of credit under the NCA. The amendment to the Bill is an attempt to clear up any legal ambiguity in terms of credit."
He says reasons for the provision in the bill are as follows:
"E-tolling is a prepaid process, but a seven day grace period is given for payment. This is not a provision of credit."
Mona says under the legislation a person who fails to pay e-tolls is committing an offence and has the opportunity to rectify it. "Sanral was concerned by this latest attempt by the Opposition Against Urban Tolling Alliance (Outa) and the SA National Consumer Union to discredit a perfectly legitimate enterprise through disinformation."
Mona says Sanral has followed all due process in terms of the e-tolling in Gauteng. "The attempt by Outa to take the legal battle - which it initially lost and is subsequently on appeal - to the public domain can only be described as spurious and irresponsible."
Yesterday, the Democratic Alliance (DA) accused government of trying to rush through e-tolling bill following a discussion of the e-tolling Bill - by the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) Select Committee on Public Services.
Herman Groenewald, DA member of Parliament in the NCOP, says the manner in which the Transport Laws and Related Matters Amendment Bill was dealt with by the chairperson of the committee, Mtikeni Sibande, was an "utter disgrace" and that the Bill is being rushed through, without following the proper procedures.
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