Gauteng’s E-Toll System
Gauteng’s contentious electronic toll (e-toll) system is set to be discontinued from midnight on 11 April 2024. This significant move will see the removal of the e-toll system from the province’s highways, a development confirmed in a recent government gazette announcement.
The announcement, made on Thursday and signed by Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga, details the formal withdrawal of toll declarations for sections of National Road N4 and R21, effectively dismantling the e-toll infrastructure within Gauteng.
According to the gazette, the withdrawal encompasses both the stretch from Koedoespoort to Hans Strydom Drive on the National Road N4 and the segments from Hans Strydom Drive to the Rietfontein Interchange (N12) on National Road R21. The document specifies, “The road shall remain a declared national road,” ensuring their continued importance to the national road network, despite the removal of tolling systems.
Further details from the gazette reveal that the effectiveness of these changes will be marked by the precise moment of 11 April 2024 at 23:59:59, heralding a new phase for Gauteng’s commuters and the broader transport infrastructure.
The decision is underpinned by a comprehensive agreement among multiple stakeholders, which includes a financial strategy to manage the resulting fiscal implications. The agreement stipulates that the Gauteng provincial government will cover 30% (R12.9-billion) of the South African National Roads Agency Limited’s (Sanral) debt to the national government. Additionally, Gauteng’s contribution to backlog maintenance has been set at R4.1 billion, while the national treasury has agreed to shoulder 100% of Sanral’s outstanding debts.
This multi-faceted approach also heralds the withdrawal of the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project as a toll road, yet maintains the “user-pays principle” as a cornerstone government policy. Sanral has emphasized a commitment to ongoing engagement and collaboration among all stakeholders, aiming to discover sustainable funding models for the construction, maintenance, and upgrade of roads to bolster economic progress.
The move to switch off e-toll gantries, initially promised by Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi in his state of the province address on 19 February, was met with widespread skepticism. However, this recent development solidifies the government’s commitment to ending the e-toll system, potentially reshaping Gauteng’s transportation landscape and marking a significant turn in the province’s approach to road funding and maintenance.
