Pretoria – The electronic toll collection (e-tolling) on the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project (GFIP) is not going anywhere.
This is the message from Transport Minister Dipuo Peters, who on Tuesday reiterated that South Africa obeys by the user-pays principle.
“We all know that we use the user-pays principle. We all know that SANRAL is entrusted with the responsibility of developing and maintaining roads at national level. And we all know that 86% of SANRAL budget is coming directly from the fiscus, while 14% is the tolled component of the budget,” Minister Peters said in a media briefing ahead of tabling the department’s Budget Vote.
Minister Peters said as government, they appreciate the input from motorists in Gauteng.
“But we also appreciate that more than 1.3 million motorists in Gauteng have registered and come forth to say that can we make the system easier to understand and implement,” the Minister said, adding that was one of the reasons behind the 60% e-toll discount deadline extension by another 10 days to 17th of May.
Another reason for the extension, the department said, was the last minute rush leading up to 2nd May — leaving thousands of road users outside the window period.
The Minister stood firm on the view that the e-toll system will help government roll out better roads and encourage the economic growth of the South African economy.
“We have also made available alternative toll free roads in Gauteng which are being kept in good standards.”
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