The South African National Roads Agency Limited\u2019s (Sanral) says it has registered more than one million e-tags for its controversial e-toll system.<\/p>\n
It follows\u00a0research conducted by\u00a0the Opposition for Urban Tolling Alliance (Outa) which indicates that as many 71% of\u00a0motorists\u00a0have not bought an e-tag,\u00a0the electronic device which enables motorists a concession\u00a0for Sanral’s e-toll system on Gauteng\u2019s freeways.<\/p>\n
Outa said that seven in 10 of a sample size of 2,700 vehicles \u2013 counted during peak hour traffic at nine different on\/off ramps during early February \u2013 did not have e-tags fitted.<\/p>\n
the opposition group’s 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
Responding to Outa’s claims,\u00a0Vusi Mona, GM of communications at Sanral said: “We have more than one million e-tag registrations with a weekly average of new registrations of 35,000 to 45,000.<\/p>\n
“This will definitely be higher during some weeks when key account holders come on board. This comes to approximately 66% and not 29% as stated by Outa,” Mona said.<\/p>\n
In early January, Sanral said it had sold 960,000 e-tags, one month after launch.<\/p>\n
The Sanral representative added: “Even more interestingly is that there have been hardly any e-tag de-registrations. Those that have deregistered are road users who are moving out of Gauteng.”<\/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 John Clarke, spokesperson for Outa,\u00a0who added that, for e-tolling to be successful, compliance levels had to be well over the 85% level.<\/p>\n
Outa called on President Zuma to display some civil courage in his State of the Nation speech on Thursday, by calling off the \u201cill-conceived e-tolling system\u201d.<\/p>\n
Mona said that Sanral\u00a0will share project details on a quarterly basis.\u00a0As a state-owned company Sanral\u2019s affairs are an open book.<\/p>\n
71% of motorists not e-tagged: Outa<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Why e-tolls are unconstitutional<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n SA business apathetic towards e-tolls<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n