The SA National Roads Agency (Sanral) says the recent allegations of illegal roadblocks being set up to force people to register for the suspended e-toll project, are a complete hoax, stemming from driver confusion.
“A malicious rumour has been started that states that e-toll staff are stopping people randomly in Johannesburg and Pretoria forcing them to register for e-toll.”
Last week, Twitter users took to the social network to complain about an allegedly illegal roadblock by Sanral traffic officers, where they were stopped and told they have to register for the controversial e-tolling system, or get fined.
Roadblock confusion
The agency says its investigations during the course of last week suggest the original Twitter incident possibly originated from a road user who saw e-toll workers conducting a road-marking operation, and interpreted that as some form of e-toll roadblock.
“Although traffic cones and a vehicle were present, it was part of a road-marking operation and not for forcing people to register. Similar road marking operations are taking place at various interchanges in Gauteng.”
The agency emphasises that no staff from itself or its toll operator, ETC, have conducted any roadblocks, as described in the e-mails and social network postings that allege this.
One user, @VermiTrade, said it happened on the Linksfield onramp onto the N3 North, last Sunday. “I asked them for the legislation which forces me to register at an illegal roadblock. They let me go.”
Sanral now requests that the public report such incidents to the relevant authorities, or to Sanral's free Fraud Hotline on 0800 204 558 or sanral@tip-offs.com. The agency reiterates that it is not currently authorised to conduct roadblocks.
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