Gauteng freeway e-tolling suspended

The e-tolling system on Gauteng's freeways, earmarked for implementation from the start of February onwards, has been suspended until further notice.
THE controversial issue of e-tolling on Gauteng's freeways, earmarked for implementation from the start of February onwards, has been suspended until further notice.

A new board of the South African National Roads Agency (Sanral) was recently appointed and met with Transport Minister Sibusiso Ndebele in Pretoria on 12 January. Under discussion were Sanral’s mandate, future road programmes and e-tolling in Gauteng.

“With regards to e-tolling in Gauteng, the board is currently seized with this very serious matter and will address current stakeholder concerns and issues raised in the petitions submitted to the minister,” said the chairperson of the Sanral board, Tembakazi Mnyaka, in a statement.

According to Mnyaka, the board is committed meeting its obligations to stakeholders and will explore all options available. “The board will present their findings to the minister, following which [Ndebele] will present a report to Cabinet.”

The issue of e-tolling on Gauteng's freeways has been a bone of contention between the government and the province's residents for well over a year and there has been extensive criticism that it will place an untenable burden on road users throughout the province.

The Democratic Alliance and trade union Cosatu earlier encouraged a civil disobedience campaign whereby residents were not to purchase e-tags for the toll roads, and as a result e-tolling has been postponed for the time being.

There is no indication of when the matter will reach a final resolution.