SANRAL gets very political - oh, and they try and clarify some stuff.

Further Sanral response on alternate user tariff

MEDIA RELEASE
issued by
THE SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL ROADS AGENCY LTD
16 April 2012
FURTHER SANRAL RESPONSE ON ALTERNATE USER TARIFF

Further SANRAL replies to statements issued by Wayne Duvenage of the OUTA and the DA in response to provisions published in the Government Gazette of Friday 13 April:

SANRAL wishes to emphasise again that the e-toll rates to “alternate users” are applicable only to defaulters or violaters that refuse to pay on time or at all.

SANRAL states again that every road user has the right to get the full discounts they are entitled to through the variety of payment mechanisms available.

Rather than be guided by agendas of organisations with a variety of their own interests, SANRAL urges road users to establish for themselves exactly what their e-toll fees will be, based on their most likely driving patterns.

It is a simple matter for road users to establish the truth about how much you will actually be paying in e-toll fees. You can do this by using the toll-fee calculator on the SANRAL web site, by speaking to staff at one of the SANRAL retail outlets or by calling the SANRAL contact centre at 0800 726 725.

Further, the alternate user rate of R1.74 per kilometre is actually three times the standard toll tariff, contrary to some current claims.

SANRAL notes that the DA and the OUTA characterise this rate as “almost six times” the discounted rate. For organisations proclaiming their transparency and credentials on the tolling issue, this continued use of scare tactics and sleight of hand with figures brings those claims into question.

In addition, the DA is again mistaken in referring to the publishing of the tariff structure in the Government Gazette as “underhand”. There is nothing underhand about publishing regulations and tariffs in the legally required format.

What the DA is actually saying is that something is underhand unless it has the prior approval of the DA, which is an interesting insight into the party’s delusions. The DA’s authority does not yet extend to direct day-to-day management of agencies of government.

In response to the statements of Wayne Duvenage of the OUTA, his attempts to engage in these matters might be more credible were he to familiarise himself with the manner in which legislation and regulations come into effect.

The Government Gazette of Friday 13 April 2012 contains tariff schedules as published by government, not SANRAL. Mr Duvenage should have been aware of this distinction because it has important legal implications.

Mr Duvenage’s statement also shows that he has apparently not attempted to establish that the public transport exemptions for buses and minibus taxis are made via regulations, issued separately in terms of the SANRAL Act. The provision for these exemptions is not made via the Government Gazette, covering tariffs, that were issued on Friday 13 April so Mr Duvenage’s concerns on behalf of public transport are misplaced.

However, no doubt the taxi industry will be appreciative of Mr Duvenage’s concern on its behalf.

So, to be clear, the Government Gazette published on Friday 13 April 2012 defines five kinds of e-road user:
1. E-tag user who is registered with the Agency
2. E-tag user who is not registered with the Agency
3. VLN user who is registered with the Agency
4. Alternate user
5. Day-pass user

An “alternate user” is therefore one who does not have a valid and operational e-tag, and/or who is not registered with SANRAL, and/or who is not a day-pass user.

The “alternate user” is in fact quite entitled to pay the standard tariff, if he or she pays within the grace period. The grace period is defined in the Government Gazette as being within seven days from the date and time that the liability to pay an e-toll transaction arises.

Users who do not register, or do not have valid and operational e-tags and do not pay within seven days will, indeed, ultimately pay a significantly higher tariff.

This alternate user tariff is determined at three times the standard tariff. The reason for this is the added costs associated with contacting the users by means of invoicing, debt collection and costs associated with recovering payment.

SANRAL’s view is that paying users should not pay higher costs to cover those who choose not to pay. As per SANRAL’s governing legislation, it has long been an offence to not pay toll fees and the status quo is retained.

SANRAL urges road users to do what is necessary for them to pay the least amount possible in e-toll fees. It is more convenient and cheaper administratively for motorists to have an e-tag. The benefits that go with the e-tag are the various discounts that reduce the overall cost to the road user. These are world-class roads. Our financial considerations are based on users receiving all the discounts to which they are entitled.

By continually encouraging users not to register, it is actually the OUTA and its fellow travellers in the DA that are going to end up costing road users significantly more than they could have been paying.

We must emphasise again that SANRAL is an agency of government that does not set policy. This is the role of national government. However, we would urge road users to follow recent statements from the Presidency, Department of Transport and National Treasury all of which reaffirmed government’s commitment to proceeding with e-tolling.


SANRAL’s view is that no organisation has been frank and honest with the public about the severe short- and long-term consequences of abandoning this process now.

Attempts to put forward alternatives have been characterised by high-level calculations that disregard the realities of building, operating and maintenance of road networks.

It is indeed important to have equitable funding mechanisms in place. But, there are many competing priorities for public spending and often choices are made that are not to the liking of everyone. That is the way public finances work. It is SANRAL’s duty to implement these decisions in as efficient a manner as possible, which is what the agency is doing.


Issued by the South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited

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The “alternate user” is in fact quite entitled to pay the standard tariff, if he or she pays within the grace period. The grace period is defined in the Government Gazette as being within seven days from the date and time that the liability to pay an e-toll transaction arises.

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Qwikslver said:

I won't purchase an etag. Ever.

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So, to be clear, the Government Gazette published on Friday 13 April 2012 defines five kinds of e-road user:
1. E-tag user who is registered with the Agency
2. E-tag user who is not registered with the Agency
3. VLN user who is registered with the Agency
4. Alternate user
5. Day-pass user

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biena said:

So SANRAL is going to get an invoice to the motorist in 7 days, yeah right.

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biena said:

So SANRAL is going to get an invoice to the motorist in 7 days, yeah right.

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OomD said:

Well if it's within 7 days of liability, is it then not within 7 days of receiving the invoice? As opposed to within 7 days of driving through the tollgate?

Just wondering.

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biometrics said:

If that was written by a professional PR person they should fire that person.

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How will I be invoiced for my e-toll fees?
User will receive a consolidated tax invoice and statement twice a month through their preferred method of contact.

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