The Gauteng e-toll system was officially launched on 3 December 2013, after being delayed twice, and challenged in court from a number of opposing sides.<\/p>\n
One of the main opponents to the system – Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance (Outa) – has released a brief overview of the e-tolling’s first year of operation.<\/p>\n
Outa, which lost a court batttle to Sanral before the implementation of e-tolls, said that the system’s failure over the past year has vindicated its position on the matter, with many of it’s predictions, made prior to launch, coming true.<\/p>\n
“Outa predicted the e-toll system would suffer from its glaring impracticalities, inefficiencies and the inaccuracies of an error riddled e-Natis system,” it said.<\/p>\n
“Furthermore, without the public\u2019s acceptance, low compliance would eventually render the system unworkable and unenforceable.”<\/p>\n
\u201cFor these reasons, we were disappointed but unperturbed when the Minister of Transport and the Sanral entourage announce the system\u2019s launch date of 3rd December,\u201d said John Clarke, Outa\u2019s spokesperson.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis was a case of self-deception that would come at great cost to the Sanral and society at large, as the system had all the signs of failure\u201d.<\/p>\n
Outa highlighted the following short falls of the e-tolling system and Sanral in its first year of operation:<\/p>\n
Aside from operational short-comings, Sanral also faced massive backlash from the public at large, with a number of bomb threats and other terror attacks being targeted at the agency’s operation centres.<\/p>\n
“Instead of Sanral announcing the scheme\u2019s first anniversary with pride and success, their Board must surely be pondering on where and why it all went so pear-shaped,” Outa said.<\/p>\n
E-tolls a damn good idea: economist<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n E-tolls cost 25 cents for every R100 earned<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n E-tolls are not perfect: transport minister<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n