Johannesburg - A penalty outlined in the tariff notification for the introduction of e-tolling on Gauteng highways is unlawful, AfriForum said on Thursday.
AfriForum leader Kallie Kriel said in a statement that the SA National Roads Agency (Sanral) Act did not “make provision for the creation of a category of road users based on the payment mechanism road users prefer”.
“The so-called 'penalty tariff' targeting those who do not register for e-tolls or with Sanral, is therefore unlawful.”
The Sanral Act also decreed that drivers pay toll fees, which was in conflict with the e-toll system, as the vehicle owner was meant to be registered for the payments.
AfriForum submitted its legal opinion on the e-tolling system to Sanral earlier in the day.
Kriel urged motorists not to register for e-tolling and said AfriForum would not register its vehicles.
“If there are sufficient numbers of motorists who in protest don't register either, it would force the authorities to rethink the e-tolling system as a non cost-effective recovery mechanism,” Kriel said. - Sapa