State is using fuel
levy to pay for
roads, says Jakavula
Leonard Neill
THE CURRENT fuel levy system in South Africa is unfair to rail operations and is something government must address urgently 'to level the playing fields', says Spoornet chief executive officer Zandile Jakavula.
Rail is a capital-intensive business responsible for own infrastructure maintenance, he says, while road operators on the other hand get their infrastructure while paying little for it.
The cost to the state is recouped via the national fuel levy that is paid not only by all motorists but also by Spoornet, he says.
The user-pay-principle is not applied in South Africa which would result in road operators paying high levies based on their payloads and the resulting wear and tear on road surfaces.
The bottom line is that road operators contribute nothing to development and maintenance of infrastructure. South African taxpayers and motorists are subsidising road infrastructure at R1,70 per litre which road operators are destroying, while rail has to re-invest 33% of turnover into track maintenance.
Jakavula has also called for far more stringent actions against truck overloading which not only damages roads but is also enabling many transport operators to offer far lower rates.
I want to see the laws being addressed properly, and for government to police the system. As long as they leave this to local authorities, the present situation of bribery and laziness will continue to hamper the economy in general.
Traffic officers at present are too prone to making deals with operators and accepting bribes. There is a need for strong policing. What we should see is this type of operation being privatised, and those appointed having to pay back to government on a commission basis. That will eradicate the criminal aspect and bring in the funds needed to maintain the infrastructure.
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