Gauteng road users will no longer be charged for the use of the e-toll network on Friday.
This comes after Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga published a notice in the Government Gazette cancelling the toll declaration of the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project (GFIP), known as e-tolls.
“This declaration will be effective on 11 April 2024 at 23h59, which means that from 12 April 2024, road users will no longer be charged for the use of the e-toll network.
“It is important to note that, while these roads are no longer going to be tolled, the benefits of improved roads remain and that the gantries that have been installed for use on this scheme will continue to be used for other functions, such as fighting crime,” Chikunga said at a media briefing this week.
The Minister said the obligation to pay e-toll remains until midnight on 11 April 2024.
“Road users will not be required to do anything when e-tolling is cancelled. Importantly, ‘current valid accounts’ can still be used for payments at toll plazas and other value-added services (i.e. parking). This is critical for the ongoing, long-term benefit of interoperability.
“The tag beeps will stop after midnight on 11 April 2024. The gantry lights and cameras will remain on for road safety purposes,” she said.
She said e-toll stores would remain open as the tag could still be used for interoperability, account queries and other potential transport-related services that will be determined in due course.
“The e-toll branding will be removed in phases,” said the Minister.
E-toll invoices will be rolled up until the last day and issued up until this period.
She said no transactions after midnight on 11 April 2024 would appear on motorists’ invoices or statements.
She added that the public outrage about e-tolls had led to the formation of a three-member committee comprising the Minister of Transport, Minister of Finance and Gauteng Premier, tasked by President Cyril Ramaphosa to find a solution.
“Between myself, as Minister of Transport, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana, and Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi, we finally reached agreement towards the end of March on how to conclusively deal with the debt resulting from e-tolls.
“…As a result, we were able to sign a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) to formalise alternative funding solutions for the GFIP debt repayment and deal with the backlog of maintenance and rehabilitation costs. We agreed that the MoA would also regulate the financial and funding contribution towards the SANRAL liability in compliance with the policy objectives and institutional framework for road infrastructure management in South Africa,” she said.
“We hope that the resolution of the GFIP funding and the resultant withdrawal of e-tolls will give Gauteng motorists and South Africans in general certainty after a long period of uncertainty.
“We understand that the resolution of this issue might have taken longer than some people wanted, but it involved complex negotiations, which were handled in a mature and professional manner by all concerned,” Chikunga said. – SAnews.gov.za
