There is no new e-toll precedent – high court judgement changes nothing: Outa
Civil group Outa has responded to media reports on a default high court judgement which ordered an business to pay its outstanding e-toll debt with interest, saying that it has nothing to do with the merits of e-tolling.
The court granted the default judgement against an Alberton-based company in January on the grounds that the debtor had an outstanding toll amount of R436,407.57. The court further ordered to pay interest at the rate of 10.25% as well as the relevant sheriff’s fees.
The company did not appear in court to defend the case, so a default judgement was given.
Outa said that, as the company had entered into liquidation, Sanral really couldn’t have expected any other outcome to the matter.
More importantly, the civil group echoed a statement by Justice Project South Africa saying that the case was over debt, and did not test the merits of the e-tolling system, and by no means set a precedent in court.
“This default judgment against a company in liquidation does not delve into the merits of e-tolls and is simply a judgement against someone who failed to provide a notice to defend themselves after receiving a summons for non-payment of e-tolls,” Outa said.
“Sanral sent out roughly 6000 summonses last year and in the case of Outa’s members, we gave notice of intention to defend each one.”
“While Sanral may be within their rights to seek defaults against some who did not indicate their intention to defend themselves, we see this particular action as another cheap shot and act of intimidation intended to coerce the public into paying their e-tolls.”
Read: ‘First’ e-toll ruling means very little for motorists: JPSA
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