The controversial Gauteng e-tolling system has been slowed down even further, this time due to the stretch of public holidays in April.
The steering committee appointed by transport minister Sibusiso Ndebele to review the e-toll tariff structure was supposed to meet with stakeholders on Monday, 18 April to present a report on the considerations that arose from the consultation process.
However, the meeting did not happen and the report is not ready for presentation.
E-tolling is an open road, multi-lane toll infrastructure that allows for tolls to be charged without drivers having to stop. There are no physical booths.
The toll tariffs were initially gazetted at 66c/km for standard light motor vehicles, and R3.96/km for heavy vehicles. However, large-scale public outrage resulted in the fees being suspended and consultation processes were started by the Department of Transport.
Holiday delay
Democratic Alliance spokesperson for transport in Gauteng Neil Campbell says the meeting did not occur as planned.
“I have written to the MEC [of transport in Gauteng Ismail Vadi] to ask why the meeting didn't happen and when it will be held now, but I haven't gotten a response. They said the 18th and I diarised it in my BlackBerry as they said it.”
Deputy director of media relations at the Department of Transport Sam Monareng says the intention was to have the meeting this week, but the committee decided to hold it off due to the public holidays.
“We thought a lot of stakeholders will be away on holiday. That's why we decided to postpone.”
He says the steering committee is busy going through the public comments and the consolidation process is under way.
Monareng adds that the department will announce a new date for the meeting soon. He also says the report is almost ready and just needs to be finalised.
“The report was supposed to be presented to the minister at the end of the month, but the minister has said he doesn't want the consultation process to be short-circuited, but we are working to very tight deadlines.”
The deputy director says the report should be presented roughly in the first week of May, instead of at the end of April as initially planned.
Watchdog wanted
At a previous meeting, transport director-general George Mahlalela said there were two main points crystallising from the public consultations, according to Campbell.
He said the first is that there should be some kind of independent body serving as a watchdog over the South African National Roads Agency Limited, since the agency should not be in control of the e-toll system on its own.
The second point that continued to emerge is that instead of toll fees there should be a fuel levy and this levy should be implemented countrywide.
The DG did not elaborate on the points, but said there would be a feedback meeting on 18 April, once the report had been compiled.
He said all the presentations and inputs from the consultations would be consolidated into a single report and all the stakeholders would then be re-invited to be given feedback at the meeting.
The estimated monthly revenue from e-tolling, based on current traffic flow and the proposed fee of 66c/km, is R300 million per month. Live testing of the e-tolling system has begun, but the final implementation date is unclear.
Share
