Scrapping e-tolls: Don't hold your breath

[sajunky]

OK, I'll be the cynic and put it to you that the reason for the eToll is in Gauteng is because we have the busiest highways and therefor higher possible income from them. And the reason they don't want to make more money by using a fuel levy country wide (or even just in the province) is because the money they receive from the fuel levy will most likely be way more difficult to "steal" than money paid into a SANRAL account.

Well, if it is a reason, why they are preparing to scrap e-tolls in Natal? Inconsistent.

 

[Hamster]

Well, if it is a reason, why they they are preparing to scrap e-tolls in Natal? Inconsistent.

If you want to go all tin hat: they are losing votes and can see people are opposed to it. They already have the busiest highways under eToll so why increase the "resistance" by including other provinces. By scrapping it (and with this they will scrap future Gauteng phases as well) they keep it a Gauteng problem. They get the fuel levy going, everybody pays and the actual eToll money is even easier to hide and make "dissapear".

Not that i think our current government has the brains or foresight to pull off something like that. Some of their sponsors and external consultants might though.

 

[sajunky]

If you want to go all tin hat: they are losing votes and can see people are opposed to it. They already have the busiest highways under eToll so why increase the "resistance" by including other provinces. By scrapping it (and with this they will scrap future Gauteng phases as well) they keep it a Gauteng problem. They get the fuel levy going, everybody pays and the actual eToll money is even easier to hide and make "dissapear".

Not that i think our current government has the brains or foresight to pull off something like that. Some of their sponsors and external consultants might though.

It makes sense. When you are talking about sponsors, do you think business people behind transformation (in other words NEW - New South Africa)? This makes even more sense, as since 1993 we have schwindel after schwindel and each time it becomes more sophisticated. Arms Deal was very simple, just couple bribes. This one due to inflated prices for tickets is a constant money flow for 20 years, even more.

 

[Hamster]

It makes sense. When you are talking about sponsors, do you think business people behind transformation (in other words NEW - New South Africa)? This makes even more sense, as since 1993 we have schwindel after schwindel and each time it becomes more sophisticated. Arms Deal was very simple, just couple bribes. This one due to inflated prices for tickets is a constant money flow for 20 years, even more.

Sponsors = people funding the ANC and their election campaigns. They generally want something in return for their money.

 

[sajunky]

Sponsors = people funding the ANC and their election campaigns. They generally want something in return for their money.

It seems the same people. Nothing has changed from 1993.

 

[j4ck455]

If a provincial or national fuel levy is introduced to fund road improvements and the existing etrolling is not extended and also not scrapped in Gauteng, those who are paying their etrolling bills will soon complain that they are paying for both etrolling and the fuel levy portion for other roads that they don't even use (in person), those people will come to their senses and stop paying their etrolling bills because they cannot exactly tell the petrol jockey that they will pay for the fuel excluding the fuel levy portion.

IMHO etrolling has already been buried half-alive and we are all now waiting for it to run out of Oxygen. The cANCer government isn't concerned because it intends to continue wasting oodles of tax revenue fighting to force etrolling down the throats of tax payers.

 

[kianm]

Reason for eTolling is Gautrain.

Been trying to figure this out

 

[xumwun]

Gautrain really doesn't need etolling. They were getting more than enough customers without it.

 

[kianm]

Even if the e-toll system stays in place, but Sanral fails to go ahead with certain aspects, like the prosecutions, ETC may have a claim against the agency, says Mulder.

Wiechers says ETC may also be entitled to claim if it can prove that Sanral made misrepresentations or was negligent in its projections of, for example, compliance levels or the ability to prosecute.

Forthcoming attractions, I'm waiting for this one

 

[sajunky]

Gautrain really doesn't need etolling. They were getting more than enough customers without it.

Customers who pay for sevices or those customers who get money from Gautrain?

 

[fs87]

If they keep the existing e-tolls and implement an additional fuel levy, then some people will be paying double for the same stretch of road. How do they expect people to simply accept this?

It seems fair to me, those that where stupid enough to get an e-tag should pay double.

 

[krycor]

Reason for eTolling is Gautrain.

Yes and no. Funny story.. initially yes and it helps them push public commute agenda however, due to the current petrol price its actually worthwhile to take the Gautrain (if > 3 stations). but heres the thing, Gautrain is getting more & more pricey and its nolonger always cheaper than driving. In addition to the fact that eTolls allow them to push the cost of transit up a notch or three needed for them to hike prices of Gautrain.

I suspect if eTolls were scrapped we'd still have high usage of Gautrain but their ability to increase costs to where they want it would be severely limited.

 

[sajunky]

I suspect if eTolls were scrapped we'd still have high usage of Gautrain but their ability to increase costs to where they want it would be severely limited.

I expect the same and I agree. Gautrain doesn't depend on e-tolling, but Gautrain fast enrichment programme does. It is why e-tolling is not going to be scrapped in Gauteng.

Fighting e-tolling is like Don Quixote's attack on windmills. Hit a wing, you will be brought down by another one (linked to the first). If you don't understand entire structure; who is backing up e-tolling and why, you can't be succesful.

 

[Sm00thSm0k3]

To SANRAL:

Paying me e-tolls: Don't hold your breath
...then again maybe you should then you can die a slow death