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

[LazyLion]

The South African Roads Agency (Sanral) and the Justice Department were discussing the possibility of establishing special courts where e-toll non-payers could be prosecuted, Beeld reported on Monday.

Justice Department spokesman Mthunzi Mhaga reportedly said Sanral had asked for such a court.

"We are still talking about what would be the best method."

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and the department of justice said they "could not speculate" on whether the country's legal system would be able to cope.

Bulewa Makeke, the NPA's head of communications, said it was the NPA's responsibility to allow courts to apply laws that had been accepted.

Sanral and former transport minister Ben Martins had earlier acknowledged that the controversial AARTO Act would not be used to prosecute e-toll non-payers, but rather the Criminal Procedure Act.

Motorists would receive fines by registered mail that could lead to a court summons.

According to the Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance's court documents, this could be about 2.1 million summonses.

Vusi Mona, Sanral spokesman, said motorists who did not pay their toll fees would be charged under the Sanral Act.

If the first debt collection process fails, a final notice will be sent and the matter will be handed over to the prosecuting authority.

It would be done electronically, he said.


Source : Sapa /pk/tk/jje
Date : 14 Oct 2013 08:31

 

[Wyzak]

What time period would this be for? If they had to issue multiple summonses for the same people for every e-Toll charge not paid?

They will probably issue a separate summons for each one and add penalty costs for each one as well...

If the first debt collection process fails, a final notice will be sent and the matter will be handed over to the prosecuting authority.

It would be done electronically, he said.

Lol, ok.... Just send it to my email address it's [email protected]

 

[DreamKing]

witch hunt begin .....

 

[daveza]

Motorists would receive fines by registered mail that could lead to a court summons.

According to the Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance's court documents, this could be about 2.1 million summonses.

So that's 2.1 million people queueing at the post office to receive their registered mail fines.

 

[Wyzak]

So that's 2.1 million people queueing at the post office to receive their registered mail fines.

If (and it's a big IF) they actually send it registered mail, and not try and cheat the system by sending it normal mail like AARTO.

 

[daveza]

Interesting - one the one hand they say they expect everyone to do the right thing and pay, on the other they are making plans because they know so many people will not pay.

 

[Albereth]

We've already been shown the carrot, this is the stick.

The carrot was shoved up the public's backside - pretty sure the stick is going the same way.

 

[Wyzak]

I think somebody might have posted this before, it is a long article but definitely worth reading. Just shows how history likes to repeat itself and how politicians fail to learn from the mistakes of others.

http://inside-politics.org/2012/03/06/tolls-back-then-and-why-this-time-its-different-or-is-it/

 

[daveza]

http://mybroadband.co.za/news/government/88887-e-toll-the-hidden-costs.html

The table below summarises the additional fees specified by Sanral:

Item Fee
A new e-tag if yours is lost or stolen R150
Delivery to you of an e-tag in Gauteng R60
Replacing your customer identification card R5
Replacing the e-tag bracket/holder for motor vehicles R5
Replacing the e-tag bracket/arm band for motorcycles R150
Not returning the e-tag bracket/arm band for motorcycles if Sanral replaces it for free or if you end the agreement R150
Not returning the e-tag if Sanral replaces it for free or if you end the agreement R150
Not meeting debit order obligations (a payment dishonour fee for each transaction) R2.50
Second or later printouts of statements (first printout free) 50c/page
Second or later printouts of tax invoices (first printout is free) 50c/page
Printouts of documents that are not invoices or statements 50c/page
Fax / phone account notifications R3
Postage notifications R3.50
Detailed transaction report fixed fee R5

They are going to charge users R3.50 every time they send an invoice - every 7 days ?

That's R14.00 per month from how many million road users ?

 

[daveza]

http://www.itweb.co.za/images/PDF/Sanral_GFIP_Gazette.pdf

http://www.itweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=68135:Toll-rates-misleading-

Government is being tackled for misleading Gauteng commuters by claiming it has lowered e-toll rates, and the bulk of motorists will not pay more than R100 a month to travel around the province.

This comes after the publication of the latest e-toll tariffs last Thursday, which show that drivers of light vehicles will pay 58c a kilometre without an e-tag, and the discounted rate for tag-holders will be 30c a kilometres.

A day after the gazette was published, Cabinet stated: "E-toll tariffs have been reduced in response to public comment; poor passengers have been taken care of through the exemption of public transport operators from paying toll fees; a monthly payment cap has been introduced; and a rebate system exists for transport companies."

However, the standard tariff has been unchanged since August 2011, while the e-tag cost was last decreased in November 2012.
The gazette also claims that 82% of those with light vehicles will not pay more than R100 a month to use Gauteng's freeways. However, it has yet to provide figures to show how it worked out this percentage.

 

[Sinbad]

The whole per-kilometer thing is misleading in itself....
A trip from the R101 to the Brakfontein interchange, which is 3 km, costs R5.34 or R1.78 per kilometer for a light vehicle

 

[jboyx989]

I think somebody might have posted this before, it is a long article but definitely worth reading. Just shows how history likes to repeat itself and how politicians fail to learn from the mistakes of others.

http://inside-politics.org/2012/03/06/tolls-back-then-and-why-this-time-its-different-or-is-it/

Very interesting, thanks!

 

[Wyzak]

How are we suppose to comment if the public comment email address does not work?!?! Still haven't seen anybody mention that. To compound matters, the post office is also striking. So they won't receive mail within 30 days.

The whole per-kilometer thing is misleading in itself....
A trip from the R101 to the Brakfontein interchange, which is 3 km, costs R5.34 or R1.78 per kilometer for a light vehicle

Yes, it definitely is. The ignorant public won't know about this until they get their first bill and query it.

 

[DJ...]

MyBB is putting together a story about the emails not working. Word on the street is that Sita are dragging their feet on this issue. There should be an update soon..

 

[Sneeky]

Buy and e tag and be capped and R450 pm, do not buy one and the sky is the limit.

Now surely there is a case here for blackmail/extortion of sorts.

 

[Wyzak]

Buy and e tag and be capped and R450 pm, do not buy one and the sky is the limit.

Now surely there is a case here for blackmail/extortion of sorts.

There is also no guarantee that the R450 cap will remain in place, or for how long. They have gotten away with discrimination for almost 20 years, they really don't care anymore

 

[LazyLion]

JPSA slams e-toll courts

JOHANNESBURG – Questions are being asked about government’s priorities following news that discussions are underway to establish specialised e-tolling courts.
Justice Project South Africa (JPSA) has asked why government has prioritised these courts instead of more serious violations on the roads.
JPSA Chairperson Howard Dembovsky says the Department of Justice has not yet established specialised courts for drunk or reckless driving.
“Clearly, collecting money is way more important that saving lives,” he says.
The South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) says it will cope with the number of daily transactions, but Dembovsky is not convinced.
“Even with these special courts in place, it’s still doubtful that they’ll be able to prosecute a million motorists a month.”

http://ewn.co.za/2013/10/14/JPSA-slams-e-toll-courts

 

[DreamKing]

Meanwhile, the Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance (Outa) is meeting on Monday to decide whether to continue or abort its legal bid to stop the multi-billion rand project.

don't waste money.

 

[Wyzak]

JOHANNESBURG – Questions are being asked about government’s priorities following news that discussions are underway to establish specialised e-tolling courts.

The controversial Gauteng tolls are due to launch before the end of the year.

Justice Project South Africa (JPSA) has asked why government has prioritised these courts instead of more serious violations on the roads.

Never mind more serious violations on the roads, why don't we have special courts for murder or rape?

One has to be concerned about their hell-bentness to push this through and to make it work. It looks like the budget is in dire distress and they need this money no matter the cost... I wonder what else they haven't been telling us.

 

[MKFrost]

At the rate things are going in this country we also need a special court just to handle government corruption..

And while at it we might also need one to deal with medical parole seeing as this is becoming an everyday occurrence...