The South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL) has told motorists to prepare for e-tolling on Gauteng highways by registering for their e-tags, saying e-tolling in the province was no longer legally disputed.
HumanIPO reported last week approximately 300 vehicles participated in the Congress of South African Trade Union’s (COSATU) “drive-slow” protest action against e-tolling, while Ian Ollis, shadow minister of transport and Democratic Alliance (DA) member of parliament (MP), has said he will write to president Jacob Zuma urging him to investigate alternatives to e-tolling.
But SANRAL spokesman Vusi Mona said motorists should obtain their e-tags and not be fooled into thinking court action would stop the tolling.
“With the introduction of e-tolling on some highways in Gauteng set to start in the near future, motorists [should] get their e-tags and register for payment without delay,” said.
“Motorists should not be confused by court actions currently underway.” he added. “The legality of open road tolling in Gauteng was settled by the constitutional court when it lifted, in September last year, the interim interdict preventing Sanral from implementing e-tolling in Gauteng.”
E-tags will be fitted to a windscreen and automatically deduct the toll fee when the vehicle passes beneath an overhead gantry. According to Mona, there are already 40,000 e-toll account holders.
“We are grateful to the individual motorists and fleet operators who have already registered,” said Mona. “Registered e-tag users with up-to-date accounts at SANRAL will qualify for the discounts on offer and the convenient payment options available through the e-toll system.”
