e-Tolling costs

“This is not just a bad dream; it’s a reality, it’s going to happen. No one should have any illusion whatsoever that this thing is going to go away. It’s a fact of life and it’s going to happen.”

Those were the words of government spokesperson Jimmy Manyi regarding the new e-tolling system set to come into effect on 30 April 2012 along Gauteng’s major freeways.

Manyi encouraged freeway users to go out and get an e-tag, and warned that government would tolerate no disobedience.

Trade union federation Cosatu has called for strikes and is advocating a civil disobedience campaign. Cosatu urged freeway users to not get an e-tag and to not pay the bill that SANRAL posts to them.

Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan announced a R5.8 billion bail-out for the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project (GFIP) last week (22 February 2012) along with much-reduced per-kilometre pricing.

Gordhan also announced that motorists would not be charged more than R550 per month for using the freeways part of the GFIP.

Heavy duty vehicles qualify for a 20% discount if they use the freeway outside of peak traffic hours and public transport vehicles such as buses and taxis are exempt from the fees.

The table below summarises the newly announced prices.

E-Toll gantry

On the e-tolling website, SANRAL explains that motorists aren’t actually billed per-kilometre, but rather by which gantries they pass under.

These gantries were erected at various points along the N1, N3, N12, and R21 freeways and each have a fee associated with it, much like regular tollgates.

However, according to the e-tolling call centre and the website, the fees have not yet been updated to reflect the new per-kilometre pricing laid down by government.

Related articles

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MEC “not concerned” over e-toll opposition

E-tolling, government learnt lessons

DA e-toll claims misleading says SANRAL

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