Gauteng's hands tied on e-tolling

The Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport (GDRT) cannot further reduce the e-toll tariffs or abolish the contentious system.

Speaking at the Gauteng Legislature last week, Gauteng transport MEC Ismail Vadi said this is because it does not have the constitutional power or the legal authority to do so.

“The GDRT is unable to intervene directly on this issue as the competency in respect of the GFIP [Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project] lies with another sphere of government. So, its influence can only be indirect.”

He explains that any decision on the matter is vested exclusively with the Ministry of Transport.

The MEC said opening of registration for the e-toll system last week, before petition hearings could be held at the legislature on Friday, was premature.

Petitioners included the Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) and the Democratic Alliance (DA). Cosatu said the hearings would be futile since it seems the project is going ahead regardless.

Vadi also said public consultations around e-tolling and the GFIP in general had been inadequate.

“There is little doubt that the GFIP and the impending toll tariffs are matters of concern to large sections of our people in Gauteng. Almost daily, someone or the other will ask me about the toll fees and express dismay about what the travel cost implications will mean for them.”

“We cannot be asked to make a choice between upgrading and expanding our roads network and developing public transport; we need both.”

The Executive Council of the Gauteng Provincial Government has directed the GDRT to develop a strategic framework for road infrastructure and freeway development aimed at promoting public transport, economic growth and job creation, and to arrange a process of public consultations on the matter.

The MEC says this is currently being planned and will be reported to the legislature and public in due course.

He adds that the GFIP, for which e-tolling is being established, should not be seen in isolation from the current efforts being made to develop the public transport system.

He highlights work being done with Metrorail and the Gautrain, as well as the Bus Rapid Transit systems.

“These public transport initiatives are significant. They will over time transform the urban landscape and mobility patterns in the province.

“I will be the first to admit that it would have been better if these initiatives were fully in place before the introduction of the GFIP tolling system. What we have seen is a lack of co-ordinated planning on the part of the three spheres of government over the last decade. As government, we must learn lessons from this experience.”

Apart from the e-tolling fees, which petitioners said are too high, organisations have identified other problems with the system.

The Southern African Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association says, along with other bodies within the Tourism Business Council SA, it remains concerned about the billing procedures.

It adds that these issues have not been resolved, although registration for the system has already opened.

The association says the final fees have yet to be gazetted, it remains unknown how road users who do not pay toll fees will be prosecuted, and there are no documented processes or systems in place to resolve incorrect toll transactions caused by fraudulent duplicate vehicle licence plates.

“The decision by Sanral [SA National Roads Agency] to launch their e-tag campaign now, while several further consultative processes are under way, only serves to cause further confusion among the general public.”

It is due to these unresolved issues that Cosatu, the SA National Civic Organisation, the South African National NGO Coalition, South African Transport and Allied Workers Union, the DA and other parties have decided to start another petition.

This joint petition will be drafted and sent within the next two weeks.

This is just the first of several interventions that petitioners have agreed on in order to curb the implementation of the e-tolling system, says Cosatu.

“Secondly, Gauteng Legislature will facilitate a meeting between the Provincial Department of Roads and Transport and the parties mentioned above to discuss development of public transport within the province.”

The federation adds that lastly, the Gauteng Provincial Legislature will table a report on the hearing and this will be debated by all parties.

Fees initially gazetted for the e-toll system in February were suspended due to public pressure.

Cabinet in August approved reduced tariffs for e-tolling in Gauteng, which dictate 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.

Qualifying commuter taxis (Class A2) and commuter buses (Class B) are completely exempt from the e-toll system.

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

The system is set to go live in February, despite strong opposition from labour, political parties and citizens.

E-tags are now available at Checkers, Pick n Pay and Shoprite stores for R50. They are also available from e-toll customer service outlets in shopping malls across Gauteng, consumer centres along the Gauteng e-road, via www.sanral.co.za, or the Sanral Call Centre.