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Cabinet calls on motorists to abide by the law - Newsroom - 10-10-2013
Cabinet has called on Gauteng road users to abide by the law, demonstrate good citizenship and make their contribution to a better South Africa by registering for e-tags and paying for use of the country's world-class roads.
Briefing media on Thursday, following Cabinet’s regular fortnightly meeting, Acting Cabinet spokesperson Phumla Williams said the recent developments surrounding the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project (GFIP) will make the provincial and national economy more efficient in the future.
The legislation came into effect after President Jacob Zuma recently signed the amendment bill into law last week.
Yesterday, the Supreme Court of Appeal dismissed the Opposition to Urban Tolling Association's (Outa) bid to stop the implementation of e-tolls in Gauteng.
However, the opposition to the system, including a few political parties, are still continuing their fight against e-tolling, and are now calling on the public to defy and not register.
Williams said as government, this was not a cause for panic at this point, adding that South Africa was a country of law abiding citizens. A total of 680 000 e-toll tags were in circulation.
She said the decision by the Supreme Court of Appeal vindicated that government had sufficiently consulted the public before the introduction of the project.
“We have always asserted that as a responsible government, we have done everything as required by law. The GFIP was a consultative process. When the first concerns were raised, the Deputy President and a team of ministers engaged sectors.â€
She said as government they had listened to the concerns raised by the general public regarding the system which, she said, was not against user-pay principle but the tariffs were too high and would disadvantage the poor.
"E-tolls tariffs have been reduced in response to public comment, poor passengers have been taken care of through the exemption of public transport operators from paying tolls fees; a monthly payment cap has been introduced and a rebate system exists for transport companies," says Williams.
Government maintains that only a fraction of road users of the GFIP will pay the maximum monthly cost of using the road, which is capped at R450 for those who have registered for e-tags.
According to SANRAL, the e-tolling will not cost motorists a fortune, as the vast majority of motorists (82.83%) will only pay R100 a month.
Implementation process of e-tolls
Regarding the implementation process, Williams said the proclamation of the Transport Laws and Related Matters Amendment Act, which follows the enactment of the legislation into law by the President Jacob Zuma, has been gazetted for the information of the public.
Government has also published the toll tariffs for comment by the public for a period of 30 days.
The Minister of Transport will consider the inputs before making a final determination on the tariffs that motorists will pay on the tolled road network.
Motorists can register for e-tolls by visiting participating Checkers, CNA, Pick ‘n Pay, Shoprite and Spar stores or one can register online at http://www.sanral.co.za. Also, registration can take place by calling 0800 SANRAL (726 725), a fax to 0800 SANRAL (726 725), or by visiting one of SANRAL’s customer service outlets at malls, as well as along the Gauteng e-roads or the mobile registration point across Gauteng.
While the e-tag can be obtained at a cost of R49.95, the R49.95 is credited to the e-toll account holder’s account, once registered, which makes the e-tag effectively free.
The e-tag serves as an electronic transponder and must be fitted on the windscreen of the vehicle. When the vehicle passes beneath one of the overhead gantries on the toll highway, the e-tag is recognised and a transaction is automatically recorded. Open road tolling means that there will be no toll plazas on the road, which slow down traffic or result in long queues.
There are a number of payment options available to registered account holders. An account holder can make payments online, through the e-toll website or their bank, or through cash, credit card or debit card transactions at SANRAL customer service outlets.
The account holder can also choose from automatic processes, by setting up a debit order that will top up the e-toll account automatically when a minimum balance has been reached or by simply linking the e-toll account to a credit card, whereby e-toll transactions are rolled up daily and deducted from the credit card, once a day.
Road users to exercise caution
Meanwhile, Cabinet also called road users to exercise caution when using the country's roads.
"Cabinet is concerned about the increase in incidents involving pedestrians on highways," said Williams, adding that motorists and pedestrians have a responsibility to look out for each other on the road.
Pedestrians account for at least 46% of the people, who lose their lives on the road. – SAnews.gov.za