E-tolls remain in place on Gauteng’s roads, for now

As recently as May 2021, SAfm News reported comments from Gauteng MEC of Public Transport and Road Infrastructure, Jacob Mamabolo, stating that e-tolls were ‘being scrapped’. This was quickly contradicted by Transport Minister, Fikile Mbalula, whose department, according to reports, issued a statement saying that ‘no decision has been made’ as to whether e-tolls would be scrapped or not.

Of course, another voice in the debate belongs to SANRAL, the company charged with implementing and enforcing e-tolls on Gauteng’s roads. Current information on their website refers only to the latest tariff stipulations featured in the Government Gazette on 11 February 2021, indicating the current e-toll charges for road users. So, while there may seem to be some uncertainty about the status of e-tolls based on statements made to the media, legally, they remain in place, for now.

So where to now?

Naturally, this ongoing saga is frustrating for businesses that rely on road transport to operate and who have been almost universally opposed to e-tolls since they were first implemented in 2013. Unfortunately, while opponents of the system may be tempted to view recent statements by provincial officials as an indication that the demise of e-tolls is imminent, the reality is that Gauteng provincial government officials have long been in favour of scrapping the system. According to an article in Mail & Guardian (Kekana 2019), Gauteng Premier, David Makhura, first raised the issue in his 2017 ‘State of the Province’ address, and it is debatable whether we are closer to a resolution now than we were then.

Although the latest Revised Strategic Plan from the Department of Transport (2021b) acknowledges the need to ‘create policy and legal certainty about the future of the toll road system’, it doesn’t establish any timelines for the process or provide details as to what options are being considered. SANRAL’s Horizon 2030 strategy document (2020), meanwhile, continues to emphasise the importance of ‘private finance in the form of state tolls and public-private partnerships’ in fulfilling its mandate in terms of infrastructure development.

Don’t let uncertainty take its toll

Fortunately, uncertainty around e-tolls is something that can be managed with an effective fleet management solution, along with a host of other fleet management tasks, from handling fuel and maintenance costs to monitoring performance and managing fines and licensing fees. Of course, this means keeping track of the status of e-tolls too, ensuring compliance with current legislation and that tolls are paid as needed. Visit our website or contact your business banker today to discover what our fleet management solutions can offer your business.