New research conducted by\u00a0the Opposition for Urban Tolling Alliance (Outa)\u00a0indicates that as many 71% of\u00a0motorists\u00a0have not bought an e-tag.<\/p>\n
An\u00a0e-tag\u00a0is an electronic device which enables motorists a concession\u00a0for The South African National Roads Agency Limited’s (Sanral) e-toll system on Gauteng’s freeways.<\/p>\n
With e-tolling now into its third month of operation, Outa’s research indicates that freeway users are largely steadfast and exercising strong levels of civil\u00a0disobedience\u00a0by not getting e-tagged to the levels required by Sanral.<\/p>\n
According to the opposition group, 71% of a sample size of 2,700 vehicles – counted during peak hour traffic at nine different on\/off ramps during early February – did not have e-tags fitted.<\/p>\n
Outa\u2019s previous research finding on 12th December 2013 (within two weeks of the gantries going live), found that only 15% of users had bought into the system.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut those were the early start up days and we knew the number would climb in the first few months, however, with Sanral\u2019s threatening behaviour we expected the e-tag uptake to be much higher by now,\u201d said John Clarke, spokesperson for Outa.<\/p>\n
\u201cDespite Sanral\u2019s intimidation tactics, Outa has been pleasently surprised at the civil courage of Gauteng citizens who have largely resisted and displayed a relatively low e-tag uptake\u201d said Clarke who added \u201cfor e-Tolling to be successful, compliance levels had to be well over the 85% level.<\/p>\n
In early January, Sanral said it had sold 960,000 e-tags, one month after launch.<\/p>\n
Clarke pointed out that Sanral has failed to inspire public confidence in it’s systems, “which, compounded by security breaches, offensive remarks by their spokesperson, misleading statements, chaotic billing and erroneous data have done extreme harm to the legitimacy of the system”.<\/p>\n
President Jacob Zuma recently scolded Sanral for the e-toll billing problems, prompting Sanral CEO Nazir Alli to promise prompt remedies.<\/p>\n
However, Outa noted that complaints to the group and other social media sites have not abated, with large fleet owners and logistic companies now adding their voices of concerns and anger at the cumbersome adminisration and high cost impact that e-tolling is having on business.<\/p>\n
On Tuesday (11 February),\u00a0Peter Mountford, CEO of listed transport logistics and mobility\u00a0firm, Super Group, bemoaned the cost effect of e-tolls on his business.<\/p>\n
Outa called on the President Zuma to display some civil courage in his State of the Nation speech on Thursday, by calling off the “ill-conceived e-tolling system”.<\/p>\n
Why e-tolls are unconstitutional<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n SA business apathetic towards e-tolls<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n