Government14.05.2014

Get your e-toll discount now

By Staff Writer

The Department of Transport has extended the grace period discount for e-toll invoices for the period 3 December 2013 to 28 February 2014, without the Alternate User Tariff being applied to these transactions.

The suspensive condition of granting the extension and relief is that road users register an e-toll account and settle the discounted outstanding amounts in full. The granting of the exemption was gazetted on Monday, the 12th of May 2014.

“Under this extended post-grace period discount offer, motorists who register an e-toll account and then settle the outstanding invoices for the period 3 December 2013 to 28 February 2014, before July 1, 2014, will only be liable to pay the standard toll tariff for these transactions as opposed to the alternate user rate which is three times the standard toll tariff,” said Sanral CEO Nazir Alli.

The Minister of Transport Dipuo Peters decided to extend the post-grace period discounts for the specific period, without applying the alternative user tariff, especially in view of the fact that road users were still familiarising themselves with the new system and there were delays in the delivery of invoices due to the postal strike.

The e-toll accounts for registered account holders who have already paid the Alternative User Tariff, for this period, will be credited automatically with the relevant discounts, by 1 July 2014.

“In the application of the ‘user-pay’ principle, we always look to make charges affordable. Also, we believe it will assist those road users who have fallen behind with their payments to catch up and be compliant,” Alli said.

Alli emphasized that to enjoy this benefit the road user:

Must register an e-toll account – or already have an e-toll account – before 1 July 2014.
Must settle their account in full for the period 3 December 2013 to 28 February 2014 to obtain the discounts.

The normal early payment discounts (Extended Grace Period Discounts) for e-toll transactions that took place after 28 February and were not paid within the seven day grace period will still be applicable, Alli said.