E-tolling – rather than a fuel levy – is the fairest way to finance the Construction and maintenance of Gauteng’s freeway network
“We consulted extensively with communities, economists and other experts, both inside Gauteng and in other provinces, and came to the conclusion that the user-pay principle is the best option, says Vusi mona, spokesperson for SANRAL. It is also recommended in the National Development Plan as the Most eefective method to finance strategic economic infrastrature.
Mona says a number of option were considered in government’s efforts to develop a system that will have the least impact on poor and working class households. Surveys have shown that people are willing to pay for quality infrastructure, but Government took into account the rising cost of living and the ripple effect of transport costs on all goods and services.
A fuel levy might appear to be the easiest method to pay for the upgrading of the Gauteng freeways but it is not the most desirable method. An increase in the fuel price will have an impact on road users across South Africa and people living in small towns and distant villages in the Eastern Cape or Limpopo would have to pay for roads they never use.
Higher fuel levies only in Gauteng would also defeat the purpose, because vehicle owners in the province will simply travel to fuel stations in other provinces to fill up, and the additional money will not benefit roads in Gauteng.
Mona says Government took into account the opinions of communities in all nine provinces before decisions on the new dispensation were taken. “We noted the views against a national fuel levy, expressed in other provinces and then took a considered opinion to retain the user pay principle, but to reduce tariffs significantly for both e-tag holders and non-registered road users.”
E-tolling is also a more flexible system than the fuel and enables government to introduce specific reductions designed to soften the impact on poor and working class families such as reduced monthly caps, time-of day discounts, exemptions for registered taxis and buses and 30 free gantry passes for infrequent users and commuters living outside Gauteng.
Contact info
e-toll Customer Care Call Centre: 0800 SANRAL (726 725)
Visit one of our e-toll customer service centres: full list available on the website www.sanral.co.za
info@sa-etoll.co.za I www.i-traffi c.co.za I Gauteng: @itrafficgp
Report any incident on the Gauteng Freeway to: 0800 487 233
SANRAL Fraud Hotline: 0800 204 558
The new dispensation: what it is, and is not
IT IS
- a new tariff structure
- a model that reduces payable e-toll fees
- an equitable system where the user benefits and pays
- a simplified model as the many tariffs from the previous system, have been reduced to a standardised rate of 30c per kilometre (light motor vehicles)
- a system that retains all benefi ts: multiple lanes, alternate routes, lessened congestion, improved safety, freeway lighting, cameras to monitor incidents and improved responsiveness; and stimulates economic growth and development
- a system that is affordable with a reduced monthly maximum cap for all users
- a system where infrequent users – less than 30 gantry passes per year – do not have to pay anything
IT IS NOT
- an amnesty for unpaid e-toll bills
- a system that does away with e-tolls
- a system where those that do not use the roads have to pay
- a complicated model that will make things more diffi cult for you
- a system that restricts benefi ts to only those who pay
- a system that burdens the poor
- a system where a visit or two to Gauteng using the network requires you to pay
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