Uncertainty still reigns over e-toll registration

The whole state of the e-toll system on Gauteng highways is still in flux, with even the whole future of the contentious scheme undecided. While the SA National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) is still proposing a start in February next year, pressure from the public and transport industry and other bodies has led to a ministerial task team conducting its own investigation while the Gauteng provincial government scheduled public hearings in Johannesburg last Friday (November 11). While all this was being arranged, transport minister Sibusiso Ndebele in October instructed Sanral to suspend all processes related to the tolling of national roads. The suspension included the planned phase two of the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project (GFIP), the Cape Winelands and the Wild Coast, while the government heard all the views from the public on the best possible model of financing the debt incurred during GFIP phase one, which still continues. So the GFIP issue – to toll or not to toll – has not been finalised. However, Sanral is still insisting that the processes for registration and issuing of e-tags – started on November 1 – would go ahead, to ensure that a reasonable number of vehicles was registered for the “go-live” test phase of GFIP. This was to include the members of SA’s road transport industry. But is the industry aware of the procedure for registration for e-tolling and how the charges will work? Not really, according to truckers FTW talked to – but who also referred us to the industry body, the Road Freight Association (RFA). So we put the question – to register or not to register? – to Gavin Kelly, technical and operations manager of the association. “While the RFA cannot advise members to follow a route that would prejudice them,” he said, “it is concerning that the rollout of the tolling system is taking place irrespective of the concerns raised by the RFA and many other fleet operating associations. A number of associations and bodies are now actively advocating not to register for e-tags until Sanral has resolved the operational challenges still facing the system. E-tags can always be purchased at a later date once the issues have been resolved. “So we have advised our members not to register for the system until our concerns are addressed.” “We have received no response from Sanral in terms of its recent request for further discounts on the proposed toll tariffs nor the creation of new categories to accommodate mediumsized freight vehicles in line with the tolling structure implemented by other tollconcessionaires across the country.” The RFA is still adamant that the best method to recover costs of development and maintenance for the GFIP remains a fuel levy of around 35 cents per litre countrywide. “The costs to administer and implement the collection of tolls through the gantry system remains an exorbitant and fruitless expenditure that the country should reject outright,” said Kelly.