Motorists outside of Gauteng who wish to visit the province will have to pay e-tolling fees, with the South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL) introducing various methods of making this possible.
This will be applicable to all visitors to Gauteng who plan to use the e-tolled freeways.
According to a report by Times Live, visitors to Gauteng must register for an e-tag by calling the toll-free number or by visiting the roads agency’s website.
Visitors will still be liable to pay the fees should they decide against purchasing an e-tag and will be expected to register for an e-toll account using their vehicle’s number plate. Alternatively they can buy a day pass.
The day passes will reportedly be made available for sale through retailers Pick n Pay, Spar and Shoprite.
The day passes activate once a vehicle passes through the first e-toll gantry. Following this, the vehicle may then pass through as many gantries as required by the driver, so long as it is within the 24-hour period in which the pass was purchased.
The passes cost ZAR30 (US$3.05), ZAR50 (US$5.08), ZAR125 (US$12.69), and ZAR250 (US$25.39), for motorbikes, sedan vehicles, small heavy vehicles, and trucks respectively.
Motorists with internet access can purchase a day pass online and when in Gauteng, they can visit a SANRAL office to collect it.
Patrick Craven, spokesperson for the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), told Times Live the organisation was committed to continuing the fight against e-tolling.
“This will make us even more determined to keep up the fight against e-tolling. We’ve always said that this is not just an issue for Gauteng. Thousands of South Africans from other provinces are going to be feeling the effects,” said Craven.
“It is unbelievable. It shows that they have no confidence that they will get the money from the people and they are actually trying to bully them.”
The only vehicles exempt from e-tolls, according to SANRAL, are ambulances, military, the police, metro police, fire trucks, and qualifying public transport operators. This will result in Gauteng’s 12 municipalities and government departments paying these vehicle’s e-toll fees with ratepayers’ money.
