SA government scraps off e-tolls!

Many people have expressed their discontent with the e-tolling system ever since it was introduced in December 2013.

Over the last ten years, there have been objections raised against the e-tolls system, coming from various sources including the general public, reputable organizations like OUTA, law firms, and churches.

Some unhappy customers felt that it was unfair for them to pay taxes as well as pay for the e-toll system.

In October 2022, it was announced that e-tolling would be shut down, people have been waiting eagerly for that to take place. 

On the 10th April the Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga held a media briefing in Centurion alongside Gauteng Premier, Panyaza Lesufi, Gauteng MEC of Transport and Logistics, Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, The Deputy Director-General for Roads in the National Department of Transport, Chris Hlabisa, SANRAL Board Chair, Themba Mhambi and SANRAL CEO, Reginald Demana.

Chikunga detailed how the publicly denounced system was officially coming to an end at midnight on the 11th April. 

“At the end of last month, I published in the Government Gazette a notice concerning the withdrawal of the toll declaration of the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Projects, popularly known as e-tolls.

“This declaration will be effective on 11 April 2024 at 23h59, which means that from 12 April 2024, road users will no longer be charged for the use of the e-toll network. This means that after midnight tomorrow, e-tolls will no longer exist. However, the ring roads that formed part of this scheme will remain national roads,” said Chikunga.

As exciting as this sounds to many motorists they are still liable to pay their outstanding debts.

However she reiterated that road users will no longer be charged for the use of the Gauteng e-toll routes as of 23:59 tonight.

Here is a compilation of the subjects she shed light on for the general public:

• The obligation to pay e-toll remains till midnight on 11 April 2024.
• Road-users will not be required to do anything when e-tolling is cancelled.
• Importantly, ‘current valid accounts’ can still be used for payments at toll plazas and other Value-Added Services (i.e Parking).
• This is critical for the ongoing, long-term benefit of inter-operability.
• The tag beeps will stop after midnight on 11 April 2024. The gantry lights and cameras will remain on for road safety purposes.
• The e-toll website will be updated with respect to the cancellation, including Mobility/Tag account functionality for services, i.e. interoperability and parking, etc.
• The e-toll stores will remain open as the tag can still be used for interoperability, account queries and other potential transport related services that will be determined in due course.
• The e-toll branding will be removed in phases.

E-toll invoices will be rolled up until the last day and issued up until this period. Due to potential delays in the postal system, invoices will still be received some time after 12 April 2024.

However, no transactions post-midnight on 11 April 2024 will appear on the invoice or statement.

The Minister stated that this issue led to significant public frustration and was a matter of serious concern for the cabinet.

She trusts that the public realizes that government listens and, where possible, it will act to resolve issues that affect the public.

Furthermore, she mentioned that they acknowledge the fact that the resolution of this matter may have taken more time than expected.

However, it entailed intricate negotiations that were managed in a mature and professional way by all parties involved.

“We must now move forward as a nation and continue to build on the significant progress that we have made as a country in our first 30 years of democracy,” said Chikunga.