Why you shouldn’t pay your e-tolls

Motorists who do not pay their e-tolls are being encouraged to continue their civil disobedience, with Outa and Afriforum arguing that e-tolls are unjust and illegal.

Outa recently said Sanral’s e-toll scheme had completely collapsed as it only managed to collect less than 1% of the outstanding bills – even after they were discounted by 60%.

Under the new e-toll dispensation, motorists with e-tolls in arrears were given a 60% discount on all tolls incurred between 3 December 2013 and 31 August 2015.

Despite the discounts, only R40 million out of the R5.9 billion in outstanding e-tolls has been collected.

Outa further advised businesses that they need not consider or declare e-tolls as outstanding debt to shareholders as they are related to an “unjust and irrational law”.

E-toll cameras are illegal

Afriforum has argued that e-toll bills issued with the help of Sanral’s number plate recognition cameras are illegal.

Citing a letter from the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications, Afriforum revealed that the cameras have never been certified.

Because of this, it said, all e-toll bills sent to motorists who were not using an e-tag were illegal.

There has been little advice for motorists who have already registered for e-tolls, however.

Motorists who have registered for e-tolls signed terms and conditions in which they agree to pay their tolls:

When you register with us and you link a motor vehicle to your e-toll account, you agree to pay all e-toll transactions for that motor vehicle. This applies even if you are not the user when the e-toll transactions take place.

More on e-tolls

E-tolls have officially collapsed: Outa

You don’t owe a cent for e-tolls, says Outa

This is what the average e-toll user owes Sanral

Here is the letter which proves e-toll cameras are illegal

See how much you owe in e-tolls – how to check your bill online