Government13.06.2013

E-toll documents must be made public: DA

By SAPA

The DA will submit an application to Sanral on Thursday to gain access to all documentation related to the implementation of e-tolling in Gauteng.

Democratic Alliance MP Ian Ollis said this would be done under the Promotion of Access to Information Act.

The party was seeking documentation of the contract for services between the SA National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral), Austrian company Kapsch TrafficCom, as well as the Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) joint venture.

“South Africans have a right to know what the contractual obligations of Sanral are towards ETC and Kapsch TrafficCom,” Ollis said in a statement.

“If e-tolls are necessary for road maintenance and infrastructure, every South African deserves to know how much of their money will be used for this and how much ends up in who’s pocket.”

Kapsch TrafficCom announced on Tuesday that it would get an annual revenue boost of more than Euro 50 million (about R669 million) for eight years from e-tolling, including operational costs and selling the system hardware and software to Sanral.

Sanral spokesman Vusi Mona said on Wednesday money collected from e-tolling would not go overseas.

“This is simply not true. What must also be made clear is that all tolls collected on GFIP [Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project] go to Sanral,” he said.

“ETC is paid for services rendered on a monthly basis, and the payment is strictly according to a bill of quantities as specified in the tender contract.”

Ollis disputed this.

“From the start, Sanral has always said that e-tolls were justified because money was required for road maintenance in South Africa.

“From Kapsch’s announcement, it would appear that e-tolling will have little benefit for South Africa other than fattening a foreign company’s bank balance.”

The Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance and the Congress of SA Trade Unions expressed shock at Kapsch’s announcement.