RFA responds to drop in e-toll tariff

INLSA

Picture: Mujahid Safodien

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The Road Freight Association (RFA) has welcomed the reduction of the e-toll tariffs for Gauteng's freeways.

Spokesman Gavin Kelly said on Wednesday the RFA's support was based on current costs and the introduction of an independent regulator.

“We still maintain that the administration cost in respect of collection and our internal administration could have been avoided if fuel levies were utilised and earmarked to fund the upgrades of freeways,” he said.

“However with escalating fuel prices, the current discounted e-toll tariff structure will have a lesser cost impact on operators and ultimately the least cost impact on CPI (consumer price index) and the man in the street.”

The SA National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) said on Friday that e-tolling would cost motorists with e-tags 30c/km. This was a reduction from the 40c/km decided on last year.

The e-tag tariff for motorcycles had also been dropped from 24c/km to 18c/km, for medium heavy vehicles (Class B) from R1/km to 75c/km, and heavy vehicles (Class C) from R2/km to R1.50/km.

Kelly said the RFA will still concerned over the methods used by Sanral to collect the tolls.

“The RFA is also concerned that the proposal to allow Sanral to operate outside of the National Credit Act may create further complications when measures are instituted to recoup or collect owed tolls,” he said.

“We have also clearly stated that our support of the GFIP 1/8Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project 3/8 does not equate to a blanket approval of any other toll project.”

Despite Friday's announcement, the court review of the e-toll system was set for November 26.

Last month, the Constitutional Court overturned an interim order which had put a hold to the Gauteng e-tolling project.

On April 28 the High Court in Pretoria granted the interdict, ruling that a full review needed to be carried out before electronic tolling could be put into effect.

The interdict prevented Sanral from levying or collecting e-tolls pending the outcome of the review.

Sanral and National Treasury appealed against the order, and said the delays prevented recouping the payment incurred in building the freeways and gantries. - Sapa