Toll fee increases announced last week are yet another blow for cash-strapped consumers already under financial pressure.
This is according to the Automobile Association (AA), which said motorists now have to contend with these increases as well as the spike in the general fuel levy, which will force them to pay even more.
“This is yet another financial blow to South African consumers, and will place even more pressure on already cash-strapped motorists, commuters and consumers,” said AA spokesperson Layton Beard.
Increases to the toll rates were announced by the South African National Roads Agency (Sanral) and have been effective since Friday.
According to the AA, some of registered Sanral users were emailed about the increases on the day of the adjustments, and there apparently were not many details of the increases in the notification.
“Actual increase values were not included in the communication, nor was there any justification of why the increases were being made. The new tariff prices also do not provide any historical data of the prices, and their increases over a period of time,” he said.
The association said that Sanral’s only justification was that the adjustments were published in the Government Gazette on February 16. The published increases cover tolls across South Africa, including the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project (GFIP), where payment rates remain low.
“Sanral has again missed an opportunity to engage meaningfully with the public on this topic.
‘‘We warned last year that Sanral must try to win support from the public, but it seems its attitude to motorists remains arrogant and uncaring,” said Beard.
The association said that it was this stance that motivated motorists not to pay their toll fees.
“We will not be surprised if, given this attitude, and the prevailing economic situation in South Africa, more motorists decide not to pay their tolls.
“Sanral would do well to remember it is a service provider to their customers, the motorists of South Africa, and yet its attitude conveys the opposite message,” he said.
The AA explained these increases were only financially constraining consumers even more.
“In April, the general fuel levy increases by 30c, and the Road Accident Fund levy increases by nine cents.
‘‘This means that motorists across South Africa will be paying R4.78, or 35%, to taxes for every litre of petrol they put in their vehicles.”
The association has reiterated its stance that for toll fees to be replaced with a ring-fenced amount as part of the general fuel levy to avoid motorists paying tax twice for the use of public roads.
It added that its role was to inform the public about the increases as Sanral failed to do so.
“As it did last year, the AA is also informing the public of the toll increases as it appears Sanral has not communicated them to all users.
“In fact, the last press release on Sanral’s website dates from February 17, a day after the Government Gazette published the new tariffs, yet there is no press information on the tariff increases, nor any information on the tariff increases, on any of their social media platforms over this period,” said Beard.