E-tolling system a ‘thumb-suck decision’

The Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project (GFIP) e-tolling system has been described as a “thumb suck decision” following the lack of information around why this particular system has been implemented. “If the decision to toll was taken in 1998 as Sanral claims, why not then already put a 5-cent levy on the fuel price and we could have paid for this entire project in cash,” said RFA spokesman Gavin Kelly. “South Africans have only been given the briefest of details in recent months. In court last week it became very clear that when the minister took the decision to implement this e-tolling system he had no information in front of him – hence the title, thumb suck decision.” Kelly said in early 2000 government had called for comment after giving notice that some parts of Gauteng roads would be tolled. “But there was no indication which roads and they said it would be roughly 50 cents per kilometre. Not once did they say it would cost twice as much to run the system they are instituting.” Kelly said the RFA welcomed the court finding as it was clear that the e-tolling system was not created to maintain roads but rather to generate revenue and a review of the process was necessary as found by Judge Bill Prinsloo.