A report by the steering committee of the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project could take another month, the transport department said on Wednesday.
“We never really set a date for the release... Transport Minister Sbu Ndebele suspended the tariffs a few months back, he also suspended a date for documentation,” spokesman Thami Ngidi said.
“The steering committee has to do its work and is taking time to release a complete and comprehensive report,” he said.
The committee had been expected to finalise its report and hand it to Ndebele at the end of April.
Ngidi, who is on the committee, said it would probably take another four weeks “to finalise the entire process.”
The report would be handed to Ndebele and then presented to stakeholders for comment.
“The final report will not only go through the minister, industry and the Gauteng premier, but also to Cabinet,” Ngidi said.
He would not be drawn on the contents of the report, but said the toll project was in a phase of review, brought on by Ndebele's acknowledgement that everything the government did should not put pressure on road-users and the public in general.
“Like the Independent Electoral Commission, even though there are people who will not be happy, at least they will know that the process has been one of integrity, a free and fair one.”
Toll fees were originally set at 66 cents per kilometre before a public outcry led to them being put on hold.
The tolls form part of the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project, which includes widening roads, easing congestion at bottlenecks and improving lighting.
It is managed by the SA National Roads Agency which aims to upgrade 560km of roads in the province. - Sapa