Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga has declared the end of e-toll charges in Gauteng by the week’s close. This decision follows the publication in the Government Gazette of a notice retracting the toll declaration of the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project (GFIP), more commonly known as e-tolls.
The Minister stated, “This declaration will be effective on 11 April 2024 at 23h59, which means that from 12 April 2024, road users will no longer be charged for the use of the e-toll network.”
Minister Chikunga shared the news on Wednesday in Centurion, underscoring that while tolling will cease, the infrastructure—such as gantries—put in place for e-tolls will be repurposed for other uses, like crime prevention. She reassured that “the benefits of improved roads remain.”
Users of the e-toll system are informed that their obligations will conclude at midnight on 11 April 2024, marking a smooth transition away from e-tolling. “Importantly, ‘current valid accounts’ can still be used for payments at toll plazas and for other services, such as parking,” Chikunga elaborated, emphasizing the significance of maintaining interoperability for the benefit of road users.
The Minister further detailed the continuity of e-toll infrastructure for safety and service purposes, including the operational status of e-toll stores, acknowledging that while e-toll branding will be gradually phased out, the tags will keep serving various transport-related functions.
Addressing concerns about e-toll invoicing, Chikunga assured that while invoices may still arrive post-abolishment due to postal delays, no new charges will be applied after the stated cessation date.
The implementation of e-tolling, which sparked significant public and governmental criticism, prompted a directive from President Cyril Ramaphosa in July 2019 for a solution-finding committee consisting of key ministers and the Gauteng Premier. The committee’s efforts culminated in a Memorandum of Agreement to tackle GFIP debt and infrastructural costs comprehensively.
“We finally reached agreement towards the end of March on how to conclusively deal with the debt resulting from e-tolls… As a result, we were able to sign a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) to formalise alternative funding solutions for the GFIP debt repayment and deal with the backlog of maintenance and rehabilitation costs,” Chikunga shared, marking a significant stride towards resolving the longstanding issue.
Furthermore, the South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL) has successfully obtained approval for increased borrowing limits, enabling it to seek funding from the private sector for future projects. This development, coupled with the e-toll cancellation, is hoped to provide both clarity and relief to motorists and citizens alike after years of uncertainty and contention.
Minister Chikunga reflected on the resolution process, “We understand that the resolution of this issue might have taken longer than some people wanted, but it involved complex negotiations, which were handled in a mature and professional manner by all concerned.”
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