1 million e-toll SMSes, and counting

Sanral has issued 1,173,668 SMSes and 638,306 e-mails to notify motorists about their outstanding e-toll fees. This is according to Sanral communications GM Vusi Mona.

Sanral’s e-mail and SMS e-toll campaigns have come under fire from the Justice Project South Africa (JPSA).

The JPSA said that said that SMS and e-mail demands are not legitimate demands for payment, but are in fact an attempt to short-circuit the e-road regulations and force people to pay as quickly as possible without due processes and legislation being followed.

Mona dismissed the concerns, saying that the SMSes are used in the spirit of ensuring the owner is informed regarding any outstanding tolls due.

“Sanral has a responsibility to the unregistered road user in communicating as thoroughly as possible with them so that unnecessary extra costs are not incurred as a result of missed discount opportunities,” said Mona.

Questions have also been raised on whether Sanral is spamming people via its e-mail and SMS campaigns, and where it received the mobile numbers and e-mail addresses from.

Mona said that Sanral uses the eNatis database – “the legal database kept by the Registrar which contains the contact details of a vehicle owner” – to obtain contact details of vehicle owners.

This, Mona said, is similar to when a traffic offence has taken place and where the user must be contacted.

He also dismissed concerns that Sanral may be guilty of spamming users.

More on e-tolls

E-tolls SMS, email bill warning

JPSA wrong says Sanral: e-toll non-payment is criminal

Sanral misleading public on e-toll invoice claims: JPSA

No e-toll invoice? You still have to pay: Sanral