Kapsch Trafficom, the Austrian firm contracted to manage the e-toll system, maintains that electronic tolling is the fairest way of re-financing road infrastructure.<\/p>\n
The company however, diplomatically sidestepped difficult questions on the system’s future.<\/p>\n
The Gauteng Government is expected to announce a review panel on e-tolling later this week, which left South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) seething after it failed to reach its target at a debt auction last month.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s obviously a risk to Sanral in terms of people now stopping paying tolls because they may think that this will go away,\u201d Inge Mulder, Sanral\u2019s chief financial officer, told Bloomberg.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s the perception that has been created by the premier rather than the fact that there could be a discontinuation of electronic tolling.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mmusi Maimane, Parliamentary Leader for the DA, said on Monday (7 July) that he will be moving for the Transport Portfolio Committee to push for a full review of the e-toll scheme, within the next few days.<\/p>\n
A Kapsch spokesperson told BusinessTech that “the South African project will continue to be an important project for Kapsch. It represents the first toll system for multilane free-flow traffic on the African continent.”<\/p>\n
“The planned project profitability has not been reached as yet and cannot compete with other projects. However, the number of registered on-board units still has the potential to rise further, as does the payment rate,” the spokesperson said.<\/p>\n
When asked if the company had concerns about the future of e-tolls in South Africa, Kapsch said: “Our aim is to meet our client’s objectives and we will continue to work together with them to optimize earnings.”<\/p>\n
“Our global experience shows that electronic tolling is the fairest way of re-financing road infrastructure. We are a technology and service provider and therefore we are not in the position to comment on political decisions.”<\/p>\n
In its annual financial statement for the fiscal year 2013-14, published late last month, Kapsch lamented the “mediocre” performance in South Africa.<\/p>\n
“In comparison with the previous year, the system in Gauteng province, South Africa, contributed significantly lower revenue, despite going into operation in December,” it said.<\/p>\n
Kapsch noted sales in the rest of the world fell by EUR 20.1 million (-23.1%), due amongst other things, to lower revenue in South Africa.<\/p>\n
The group said that, as of 31 March 2014, it had a workforce of 3,308 (3,120 salaried and 188 non-salaried employees), of which more than half were located outside of Europe \u2013 roughly 1,200 employees in South Africa only.<\/p>\n
E-tolls should be put to a national vote: DA<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n DA hatches new e-toll plan of attack<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Sanral takes swipe at Gauteng Premier over e-tolls<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n E-toll review panel expected next week<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Concourt dismisses DA e-toll case<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n