Fraud concerns ahead of e-tag tolling

With the imminent introduction of e-tag tolling, concerns have been raised about the possibility of fraud as well as the implications of enforcing the tolls, according to Tommy Prins of Deloitte’s Risk Advisory.
The proposed toll roads in Gauteng, which are now under review, are based on projects similar to those undertaken in London, Chile and India, says Prins. The tolling system is a sophisticated one which does not require vehicles to stop, but rather scans e-tags or number plates as vehicles pass under gantries. These gantries are situated at intervals along the highway to enable Sanral to correctly calculate each toll fee.
Sanral envisages that people will choose either to get an e-tag, which is linked to their bank account, or choose a pay-as-you-go system to pay their toll fees.
Companies that transport goods around Gauteng – particularly those that use Johannesburg as a delivery hub – will need to monitor the use of their e-tags to make certain that there is no misuse, says Prins. “We recommend that they ensure that their logistics divisions are prepared for the implementation of the system. They need to install systems that can monitor the usage of their e-tags when the system is introduced, including fraud prevention policies and forensic data analytics to establish patterns of usage,” he added.
“Sanral has already established a toll-free hotline for road users, which we suggest should be enhanced to facilitate reporting of fraud or abuse of the system prior to its implementation.”
Prins believes Sanral will need to forge close ties with the SAPS and the private sector to ensure that abuses of the system are rectified through investigation and taking civil or criminal action against offenders.
“The debate about fees aside, Sanral's toll-road initiative should help to get our roads into shape, lower emissions, reduce traffic jams and improve transportation. To ensure that these positive attributes come about however, individuals and companies must play their part in keeping the system effective,” concludes Prins.