[May 2013..Dec 2013] The Gauteng E-tolling Thread

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Wyzak said:
Kapsch isn't the bad guy here. They provided the service that they were required to do. The scoundrels are SANRAL and the DOT who allowed this insanely inefficient system to be chosen.
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Kapsch MUST have paid huge kickbacks - they are just as bad.
There's no rational reason to go with this system unless the people making the decision were severely financially influenced.
 
Sinbad said:
Kapsch MUST have paid huge kickbacks - they are just as bad.
There's no rational reason to go with this system unless the people making the decision were severely financially influenced.
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There is simply no evidence of that at the moment, so I can't judge them for something they may or may not have done. Until then, Kapsch was asked to provide a service and our DOT and SANRAL agreed to it. Kapsch then provided the service as requested.
 
Wyzak said:
I will reserve judgement on that until it has been proven in a court of law. Until then, Kapsch was asked to provide a service and our DOT and SANRAL agreed to it. Kapsch then provided the service as requested.
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If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it's certainly not a unicorn.

E-Tolls: A Complex Web of Corruption
On May 3, 2012, in Uncategorized, by Chris Becker
The web of interaction between the cronies who brought South Africa one of the largest and most expensive tolling systems in the world, is extensive. Business Day has also uncovered some of the links between a local BEE company TMT and Kapsch TrafficCom, which together own ETC, the contractor that was awarded the tender to operate the Gautolls.

It’s complex, but here’s the simplified overview.

SAAB sold 28 Gripen fighter jets to the SA government in the arms deal. Kapsch TrafficCom was previously owned by SAAB, but has been absorbed by Kapsch Group.

Today, Kapsch TrafficCom holds a controlling stake in ETC, the company awarded the tender to operate Gautolls. TMT, a local BEE company owns the remaining 35% of ETC.

Furthermore, another business in which Kapsch has an interest, Combitech, is already operating tolls in South Africa, in partnership with Shabir Shaik’s Kombitech. Combitech is wholly owned by SAAB, the company that sold the government 28 Gripen fighter jets in the arms deal.
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Wyzak said:
There is simply no evidence of that at the moment, so I can't judge them for something they may or may not have done. Until then, Kapsch was asked to provide a service and our DOT and SANRAL agreed to it. Kapsch then provided the service as requested.
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You need to read up on the company's past dealings in SA and their business structures here. They are in no way innocent in this extortion racket...
 
I think the bigger picture is gov is moving spending on things like this to a 'consumer pays' model. No this works sometimes but wait,, if i read right tax isn't exactly getting lighter is it? no they struggling to stay within budget. i.e. over spending in the wrong places is now starting to become a huge issue much like it did ironically with countries that nose dived when recession hit. <-- not a good sign
 
VJB 449 said:
Implementing this before next year's elections will cost the ANC Gauteng. Hence the delays...
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My prediction (and I am going to bookmark this post for later):

eTolls will be delayed until after next years elections, and if the ANC win Gauteng eTolls will start happening within a month after elections. :sick:
 
Species8472 said:
My prediction (and I am going to bookmark this post for later):

eTolls will be delayed until after next years elections, and if the ANC win Gauteng eTolls will start happening within a month after elections. :sick:
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But will sanral last another year?
 
Species8472 said:
My prediction (and I am going to bookmark this post for later):

eTolls will be delayed until after next years elections, and if the ANC win Gauteng eTolls will start happening within a month after elections. :sick:
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:( i want them to bring it in already.. nothing will hit them in elections as much as eTolls
 
Seriously said:
Comprehend much? Explain how is it possible that they only pay 11c/liter for fuel if they could ask a international "market" related price like they do for everything produced in South Africa.
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Just to respond to this weeks old post...

Have you heard of subsidisation. Venezuela does this on a MASSIVE scale for petrol.. and the country is up shyte creek without a paddle for all intents and purposes anyway.
 
ToxicBunny said:
Just to respond to this weeks old post...

Have you heard of subsidisation. Venezuela does this on a MASSIVE scale for petrol.. and the country is up shyte creek without a paddle for all intents and purposes anyway.
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yet but we cannot manage R1.00 or R5.00 per liter?
 
ToxicBunny said:
Are all our coal reserves of the right grade to use in the process for making petrol?

And why are coal exports a waste?
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It would probably be better to use more of that coal to create fuel, than to import oil to make fuel.
 
Wyzak said:
It would probably be better to use more of that coal to create fuel, than to import oil to make fuel.
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It all depends on the grade of fuel, what the repercussions for not exporting the coal (to balance of payments etc etc etc) would be...

Our economy is too big and complex to look at anything in isolation like this.

I do not disagree that we can probably source our fuel or manufacture it cheaper than we do now, but what are the economic repercussions in areas outside of the fuel industry for doing so.
 
SANRAL Denies Being Broke

The SA National Roads Agency Limited on denied on Thursday that it had run out of money to the extent that investors were reluctant to provide more funding.

"Reports that Sanral is broke are factually incorrect. Sanral operates two portfolios -- the toll roads and non-toll roads," spokesman Vusi Mona said in a statement.

"The non-toll portfolio consists of funds from the national fiscus, received from Treasury, at around R10 billion per annum.

"These funds are used by Sanral to manage its non-toll network which accounts for 84 percent (16,584km) of the total national road network of 19,704km."

Mona conceded that funds were depleted in the agency's toll portfolio.

"With regard to the toll portfolio, Sanral has almost totally depleted its available cash. Sanral is not able to fund itself through the capital markets under the present circumstances," he said.

Business Report reported on Thursday that the agency had run out of money, with debt totalling R65 billion, including interest.

The agency reportedly borrowed R20bn from local and foreign investors to fund the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project. Plans to introduce e-tolling on these freeways sparked an outcry, and the project still has to be implemented.

The Democratic Alliance said Sanral's financial problems provided further reason for it to abandon e-tolling.

"The DA reiterates its call for President Jacob Zuma not to sign the Transport Laws and Related Matters Amendment Bill [e-tolling bill] into law," spokesman Ian Ollis said.

"If signed into law, the bill will give Sanral carte blanche to erect tolls around the country without public and parliamentary consultation," he said.


Source : Sapa /gm/hdw/th/clh
Date : 25 Jul 2013 15:15 OrigID : LP262455
 
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