E-tolling of Gauteng’s freeways could be a reality before Christmas in terms of time-frames announced on Friday (26 October).<\/p>\n
Transport Minister Ben Martins said Friday marked the beginning of the 30-day public consultation process, after Cabinet agreed on revised tariffs for the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project.<\/p>\n
After this period, 14 days would be set aside for Martins to “apply his mind”, and then another 14 days for gazetting.<\/p>\n
This would give a total of 58 days before e-tolling was put into effect.<\/p>\n
Martins told reporters in Pretoria on Friday: “This marks the beginning of a 30-day period for public comment.<\/p>\n
“Government will, at the end of the 30 days, having considered the views of the public, publish final tariffs.”<\/p>\n
A lowering of tariffs was also announced on Friday.<\/p>\n
The SA National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) said the e-toll tariff for light vehicles with e-tags had been reduced to 30c\/km.<\/p>\n
This was down from the 40c\/km decided on last year, said Sanral’s toll and traffic manager Alex van Niekerk.<\/p>\n
The base tariff for light vehicles would remain at 58c\/km.<\/p>\n
Van Niekerk was giving a Sanral presentation on the e-toll system.<\/p>\n
He said the e-tag tariff for motorcycles had been dropped from 24c\/km to 18c\/km, for medium heavy vehicles (Class B) from R1\/km to 75c\/km, and heavy vehicles (Class C) from R2\/km to R1.50\/km.<\/p>\n
This was according to the figures released by Van Niekerk.<\/p>\n
In his presentation, Van Niekerk said about 78.5 percent of motorists using light motor vehicles would pay less than R100 a month, using e-tags.<\/p>\n
About 91.3 percent of the same category would pay less than R200 and 96.3 would pay less than R300.<\/p>\n
Martins said government had proposed that toll fees for e-tag users be capped at R550 a month for light vehicles.<\/p>\n
According to Sanral’s presentation, only 0.2 percent would pay this amount.<\/p>\n
Transport director general George Mahlalela said the government had made a contribution of R5.9 billion to the project, which made up 25 percent of the total debt.<\/p>\n
Van Niekerk said those exempted from paying e-toll fees included valid public transport vehicles and emergency vehicles.<\/p>\n
The process would also allow for applications by motorists for exemptions.<\/p>\n
He said an example of this would be a paraplegic person who needed to be driven around.<\/p>\n
Martins said: “We believe… the consultation processes we have followed and that the toll tariffs and regulations that were gazetted today [Friday] for comment set the scene for compliance.”<\/p>\n
Mahlalela said all parties had been consulted except for the Congress of SA Trade Unions and the Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance (Outa).<\/p>\n
Despite Friday’s announcement, the court review of the e-toll system was set for November 26.<\/p>\n
Related article<\/strong><\/p>\n E-toll rate revealed<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n E-toll details must be made public: OUTA<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n OUTA: e-toll tariffs and cap likely to be reduced<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n