E-toll opposition group Outa has crunched some numbers, detailing how much the\u00a0upgrade to 185kms of Joburg’s roads should have cost, according to experts it consulted.<\/p>\n
“To date, (Sanral) has not provided a detailed insight to the cost of the Gauteng Greeway Improvement Project (GFIP), thereby giving society another reason to shun the e-toll system,” said Outa chariman, Wayne Duvenage<\/a>.<\/p>\n “Government’s lack of clarity on the matter has opened up conjecture about what it is that they are not telling the public.”<\/p>\n According to Duvenage, the final price of the GFIP upgrades – excluding the e-toll infrastructure – totalled R17.9 billion, which was a massive leap from Sanral’s original estimates of R6.4 billion in 2006.<\/p>\n On top of the road construction costs, the project incurred\u00a0a further R2.7 billion for e-tolling related infrastructure, taking the\u00a0total to R20.6 billion.<\/p>\n It was later revealed by the Competition Commission that collusion had taken place by construction companies, in which inflated costs were charged in the upgrades of the province’s roads.<\/p>\n Outa argued that, had the upgrade cost been lower, government would not have approved e-tolling as a means of funding, as the cost would have been proportionally too large.<\/p>\n To find out how much figures were inflated, Outa contacted quantity surveyors, project and civil engineers and other professionals to do a cost analysis on the GFIP, specifically looking at:<\/p>\n The group came to a total of R10.8 billion, in 2010 prices, showing that the final project was overcharged by around R7.1 billion (65%).<\/p>\n Duvenage said that it was doubtful that the full amount could be chalked up to tender collusion, alone, and noted that maladministration, fraud and incompetence could have been at play.<\/p>\n “Had the GFIP come in at around our estimated R10.8 billion….and had the minister of transport (Jeff Radebe) known e-toll collection costs (would be) over R1 billion per annum – what might his rational conclusion to the e-toll decision as a funding mechanism have been?”<\/p>\n The Outa chair said that it is “inconceivable” that the public be required to settle a large and unwanted debt incurred by the authorities.<\/p>\n “Aside from the other issues of meaningless public consultation, the onerus conditions and unworkability of the scheme, it is clear that society has every reason to reject the e-toll decision, simply because it is an odious debt,” Duvenage said.<\/p>\n New e-tolls coming in July<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n How government can spy on you through e-tolls<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n
More on e-tolls<\/h3>\n