The Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance (Outa) has asked Sanral for clarity on its plans to prosecute Gauteng road users who do not pay e-tolls.<\/p>\n
Gauteng premier David Makhura announced last week that they will set up a special panel to review the impact of e-tolls on the province.<\/p>\n
According to the premiere, this would be done in consultation with national government, municipalities and all sectors of the society.<\/p>\n
This, Outa said, gives hope that the adversarialism and controversy over e-tolling could at last give way to inclusivity and constructive engagement \u2013 a necessary means to resolving the impasse.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe cannot fight and talk at the same time. Society\u2019s backlash and resistance comes as a result of Sanral\u2019s lack of transparency, mistruths and continued psychological \u2018lawfare\u2019, which seeks to induce motorists to buy e-tags and pay their e-toll bills\u201d said Outa Chairman Wayne Duvenage.<\/p>\n
\u201cHowever, seven month after the launch, and despite an expensive marketing campaign and intimidation tactics, more people remain defiant and are not paying their e-toll bills than those who are, and most of those who are tagged have done so reluctantly.\u201d<\/p>\n
Outa added that Sanral\u2019s silence regarding the premier\u2019s panel announcement “speaks volumes”. It is Outa\u2019s opinion that Sanral may not be in support of this plan.<\/p>\n
\u201cOuta also has reason to believe that Sanral is planning to have the prosecuting authorities issue summons to a handful of \u201cviolators\u201d who have not paid their e-toll bills, in an attempt to seek a successful prosecution for non-payment,\u201d Duvenhage said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis \u2018stick\u2019 approach follows on from Sanral\u2019s recent discounts offered to entice greater compliance, a tactic that has produced very little success,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cA decision to prosecute non-payers will be their final \u2018role of the e-toll dice\u2019, in an attempt to induce greater compliance.\u201d<\/p>\n
Outa expressed concern that any attempts by Sanral to proceed with prosecuting freeway users could derail the new engagement initiative by Premier Makhura.<\/p>\n
Outa called on Sanral to respond by indicating to society if it will suspend any plans that it (or the NPA) may have to prosecute freeway users who have not paid their e-toll bills, until the outcome of the premier\u2019s initiative is concluded.<\/p>\n
\u201cFailing a concise message from Sanral in this regard, Outa will have no alternative but to commence with its fund raising campaign so as to ensure any attempt to criminally prosecute a freeway user is defended by the best available lawyers,\u201d said Duvenhage.<\/p>\n
Sanral was asked for comment on Makhura\u2019s announcement, but it would not provide any feedback. Instead it referred MyBroadband to the Department of Transport.<\/p>\n
Sanral threatening motorists over e-tolls<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n