E-tolling in five months

The controversial Gauteng e-toll system is expected to be implemented over the next five months, says transport director-general George Mahlalela.

Speaking yesterday at the Infrastructure Development Cluster briefing, transport minister Sibusiso Ndebele said the tolls are “a done deal”.

“It's done. The tolls are there, the money has been spent and decisions have been taken,” said the minister, according to the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS).

Despite widespread rejection of the e-toll system, Mahlalela previously said it was only the price of the toll fees that were being disputed and not the principle of tolling itself, which had already been accepted.

However, Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) has contested this, arguing that the concept has not been accepted.

It also said it will march and plan demonstrations, pickets and stay-aways, if the tolls are not scrapped.

“We are confident that thousands of other Gauteng residents will be joining in these protests as well.”

The recently accepted fees have been rejected by labour, business, official opposition, industry players and individual motorists.

“The user-pay principle is accepted throughout the world, but the only area people are willingly prepared to pay is in the telecommunications sector.

“In the areas of electricity, water and transport which improve their lives, such willingness is lacking,” said Ndebele.

He was adamant that the user pay principle, which he said was common in all major and emerging economies across the world, will be enforced, according to the GCIS.

However, despite the e-tolls being based on this user-pay principle, taxis and commuter buses have been completely exempted from the system.

Cabinet last week approved the reduced tariffs for e-tolling in Gauteng, as suggested by the Department of Transport's (DOT's) steering committee in June.

The approved structure dictates that motorcycles (Class A1) with e-tags will pay 24c/km; light vehicles (Class A2) will pay 40c/km; medium vehicles (Class B) 100c/km; and “longer” vehicles (Class C) 200c/km.

The suggested reduction for light vehicles without e-tags was a drop from 66c/km, to 58c/km; and from R3.95 for heavy vehicles without e-tags to R2.95.

Tariffs initially gazetted for the system in April were suspended due to public outrage over how high they were.

Ndebele subsequently set up a steering committee to host consultations on the matter. The steering committee in June recommended new tariffs that offered slight reductions on the initial fees.

The initial gazetted fees for vehicles with e-tags were 30c/km motorcycles, 49.5c/km for light vehicles, R1.49/km for medium vehicles, R2.97/km for heavy vehicles, 16.5c/km for taxis, and 50c/km for commuter busses.

The e-tolling project is an open road, multilane toll infrastructure that allows tolls to be charged without drivers having to stop. There are no physical booths.