However, his statements cast further doubt on whether motorists are still technically responsible for their e-toll bills up until this date \u2014 and whether Sanral will collect that debt.<\/p>\n
The Gauteng Provincial Government aims to publish the deregulation document before the 2024\/25 financial year starts on 1 April 2024.<\/p>\n
“As part of the winding down process, statutory authorities at the national level \u2014 National Treasury, National Department of Transport and Sanral \u2014 will carry out all the necessary steps to cease the collection of e-tolls and gazette accordingly,” said Mamabolo.<\/p>\n
“With regards to the cancellation of the e-tolls, fourteen days after the publishing of the deregulation gazette, Gauteng road users will no longer be charged for the use of the Gauteng freeways.”<\/p>\n
He added that several processes will be implemented leading up to this date, including switching off tag beeps at gantries and ceasing customer invoices.<\/p>\n
The finance MEC noted that while provisions have been made to settle the province’s e-toll debt, all other matters relating to road maintenance must be completed through a separate process.<\/p>\n
“We have held engagements with Sanral and they confirmed the e-tolls maintenance backlog of R4.1 billion and the fact that funding will be required over a period of four years,” said Mamabolo.<\/p>\n
One of the biggest questions on many paying motorists’ minds around the end of the e-toll scheme is whether or not they will be entitled to refunds on the fees they paid.<\/p>\n
Mamabolo made no mention of compensating law-abiding citizens, despite Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi previously saying that those who paid would receive refunds<\/a><\/strong>. (Lesufi later walked back that promise on the sidelines of a conference, Moneyweb reported<\/a><\/strong>.)<\/p>\n Lesufi had told 702 that most of those who paid \u2014 approximately 37% \u2014 are businesses like car hire and transport companies.<\/p>\n “There is a clear decision now that we need to refund people \u2014 some form of refund,” Lesufi had said.<\/p>\n He said a figure of R6.9 billion would be refunded but noted that Gauteng still had to decide whether the refunds would be cash or a credit that may be used to pay other road tolls.<\/p>\n
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