The electronic toll collection (e-tolling) on the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project is not going anywhere.
This was the message from transport minister Dipuo Peters, who this week reiterated that SA adheres to the user-pays principle.
"We all know that we use the user-pays principle. We all know that Sanral is entrusted with the responsibility of developing and maintaining roads at national level. And we all know that 86% of Sanral's budget is coming directly from the fiscus, while 14% is the tolled component of the budget," Peters said in a media briefing ahead of tabling the department's budget vote.
Although the controversial system experienced resistance from motorists, Peters said as government, it appreciates the input from motorists in Gauteng.
"But we also appreciate that more than 1.3 million motorists in Gauteng have registered and come forth to say can we make the system easier to understand and implement."
Peters added that was one of the reasons behind the 60% e-toll discount deadline extension by another 10 days to 17 May.
Another reason for the extension, the department said, was the last-minute rush leading up to 2 May - leaving thousands of road users outside the window period.
Sanral introduced a Less60 campaign last year, which ran for six months, coming to a close on 2 May. Sanral says over 300 000 e-toll defaulters in Gauteng took advantage of the discount.
Meanwhile, e-tolls opponent, the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa), says it is in no way surprised Sanral has been forced to extend the period by another 10 days "in an attempt to claw back a bit more of the R5.9 billion discounted e-toll debt".
The minister stood firm on the view that the e-toll system will help government roll out better roads and encourage the growth of the South African economy.
"We have also made available alternative toll-free roads in Gauteng which are being kept in good standards."
Peters considers her ministry to be the spine of the South African economy. "It is a well-known fact that without a fully-functional spine, the body has limited or no movement at all and therefore, the performance of our department is of critical importance, and our country depends on it."
She said the transport networks are the "arteries of the economy", which move people to the workplace and goods to the marketplace.
"If the transport sector fails, the whole system collapses because goods and services cannot be moved and people cannot get to their places of work to generate economic activity that so vitally contributes to our gross domestic product."
Meanwhile, Sanral says it served civil claims of between R600 million and R760 million for damages against seven JSE-listed construction firms.
Summonses have been served against the companies which include WBHO, Murray & Roberts and Concor.
The roads agency says it suffered damages and overcharges as a result of these companies' collusive conduct.
Spokesperson Vusi Mona says this is related to construction work that has been done.
"It involves the Gauteng freeway improvement project and other projects outside Gauteng; for example, the R40 in Mpumalanga. Their collusive conduct resulted in us suffering damages in the form of overpricing."
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