Transport minister Sibusiso Ndebele yesterday instructed the SA National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) to halt all processes related to the tolling of national roads.
However, this does not include a halt on the contentious e-tolling system set to be introduced in Gauteng, in February.
Ndebele says consultative processes should be allowed to take place to offer concerned parties an opportunity to share their views on the toll road programme.
“While he believes that the country requires good road infrastructure to meet its economic growth targets, the minister says this shouldn't put a huge financial burden on the shoulders of consumers,” says the Department of Transport.
Ndebele adds that while the first phase of the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Plan (GFIP), for which e-tolling was established, has delivered good road infrastructure, it was an expensive exercise that has drawn sharp views from the public.
“All spheres of government should be part of a consultative process with all affected parties, consumers in the main. Good infrastructure is a necessity for a better future for our country, but this requirement must not leave our people even poorer.”
Cabinet recently appointed a task team that includes Ndebele and minister of finance Pravin Gordhan to look into the issue of toll roads.
Ndebele says all these processes, including a consultative process initiated by the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, should be allowed to reach their logical conclusions to ensure all parties concerned and their respective views are brought on board.
Regarding GFIP, the Cabinet decision of August still stands, according to transport spokesperson Logan Maistry.
E-tolling for phase 1a of the GFIP is going ahead as approved by Cabinet, and remaining phases of the project are on hold pending further engagement and consultation.
Dictating blackmail
The organisation rubbishes the claims by the department that while the GFIP has delivered good road infrastructure, it was an expensive exercise.
“The first phase of the GFIP has not been completed yet, unless the first phase only included the N1 and R21 freeways. The N12/N3 freeways in Johannesburg are in such a shocking, demolished state of dilapidation that they constantly cause crashes and daily gridlock traffic, and calling a halt to their reinstatement as usable freeways is little short of insanity on the part of the minister.
“There is a vast difference between calling a halt to planned tolling and calling a halt to the construction of roads, which have been demolished by Sanral. If the minister thinks that he can punish motorists for being angry with his and Sanral's intent to profit from tolling freeways, then he is not only childish, but is displaying the traits of a dictator.”
The project adds the answer to implementing and maintaining roads infrastructure in SA lies in coming up with workable solutions that benefit the public and from spending monies collected from existing taxation, and possibly even reasonable tolling on roads infrastructure.
It also says there is nothing wrong with the department saying consultative processes should be allowed to reach their logical conclusions, “but blackmailing motorists by leaving current road construction projects unfinished is completely unacceptable.
“The matter of tolls can be properly discussed and resolved when these roads are sorted out. Failing this, minister Ndebele and Sanral are lining themselves up for litigation and possibly even criminal charges for destroying what roads were in place.”
Hearing all
A hearing on Gauteng's contentious e-tolling system will take place on 11 November.
“Various organisations representing thousands of workers, communities and a political party have submitted petitions on the current tolling system within the province. Concerns raised about these toll gates are centred on affordability to those using them, as well as lack of consultation during the preconstruction phases,” says the Gauteng Legislature, which will be hosting the hearing.
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 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 for heavy vehicles without e-tags to R2.95.
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.
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