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ROAD TAX: Sanral's tolling is to be implemented at the end of April on Gauteng's highways. Photo: Robert Tshabalala

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From April 30 motorists in possession of e-tags will pay 30c a kilometre to use the freeways.

Toll fee guidelines published by the Department of Transport last week show that motorists who are not e-toll compliant could pay as much as R1.75c a kilometre to use freeways.

In a commendable act of apparent compromise, South African National Road Agency Limited CEO Nazir Allie has made an impassioned plea to motorists to pay their e-toll fees when they use Gauteng freeways from April 30.

Allie revealed that Sanral did not have the power to arrest defaulters and would rely on law enforcement agencies to deal with defaulters.

He further explained that Sanral did not intend to arrest anybody for the nonpayment of tolls, "nor do we have the power to impound anybody's vehicle".

This comes at the back of government spokesman Jimmy Manyi having agitated the public with utterances that were widely described as being arrogant when he said the e-toll system was a reality that everyone had no choice but to get used to.

At the same time there were rumours that registration to the e-tolling system would be linked to motor vehicle licence disc application and there would be a special army of enforcers on the affected freeways to ensure motorists toed the line.

Concerned citizens, led by the Congress of SA Trade Unions, have staged protest marches opposed to the e-toll system. Other lobby groups have lodged urgent court applications to halt the system's implementation. Almost everyone is opposed to this system.

The dissenters have reached consensus that motorists are set to be left the poorer in the long run. It is not too late to do the right thing.

Some of the "conscientious" objectors are contemplating using the backroads or "alternative routes" .

This is bound to lead to congestion and possibly increase the road accident tolls and fatalities.

The law enforcement personnel is stretched. Will it cope with the influx?

Cosatu has planned another round of protest marches that are set to coincide with the e-toll system's launch date.

It will not surprise to see more drastic opposition to this system, unless a compromise is reached.

Comments

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Wed Jun 19 06:28:36 SAST 2013 ::

Apr 23, 2012

RobinH

Well both Sanral and state have made it perfectly clear that compromise is not an option as far as they are concerned. Allie makes no compromise as the writer suggests. He simply makes "an impassioned plea" to people to register. Where is the compromise in that? Absolutely nothing other than arrogance and downright aggression has emanated from either Sanral or the state. I am not necessarily in favour of a blockade, as this will negatively influence the economy. I would prefer to see people simply never using the toll roads so that they become a massive white elephant to remind the state of what a mistake it is to abuse its citizens.
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Apr 23, 2012

member

Mabey is time to put the opposition party in power in Gauteng because clearly our rulling party is not lesterning to the people.the have forgoten who put the POWER.
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Apr 23, 2012

CheeseBoy

I will still not bu.y a tag. I will still not pay for a tag. and to those TRAITORS who secretly b.ought that tag, i hop.e SCAMRAL will rob you for all the money you got coz you deserve it.

actualy next year SCAMRAL is going to double the amount they deduct from your etags coz people like me will still refuse to pa.y and they will have to recover the money from you traitors. law enforcement have more important issues to deal with than chase after etolls. they will have to find me first.
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Apr 23, 2012

TheMaster1

Yesterday 2 thieves were arrested whilst trying to steal etoll cables. Damn!!!
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Apr 23, 2012

Ruudboy

@ member

I hear yo sentiments & understand wher Ur coming from, quite frankly I c a need 4a party dat speaks to black people COPE failed us in this regard, there has 2b anada alternative as for DA no ways
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Apr 23, 2012

GoonerASean

@TheMaster1 "Yesterday 2 thieves were arrested whilst trying to steal etoll cables. Damn!!!"
Give this man a bells
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Apr 23, 2012

mambaaai

this whole thing is gonna go the way COPE did ... do the maths millions of users multiplied by hundreds of gates, multiplied thousands of days, using an inneficient postal system..... and then is you dont have the tag they must prove it was you......in a legal system that cannot already COPE with the current law problems.... it a mess .....they will have to revert to petrol taxes
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Apr 23, 2012

shooting1star

so this etoll nonsense everyone have to apply for it to get a tag? like what about ppl who come to just visit their families bt their registration numbers are not GP? mmm
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Apr 23, 2012

Kwajo

What a wonderful country. I think the next general election would be about water, housing, e-toll,new infrastructure and social grant. The only way to stop this etoll thing is having e-toll riots across the country. Fire all involve government officials. If they can afford building the stadiums for 2010 world cup. Why not foot the bill on this one and introduce a soft fee of R 0,05/km for all users irrespective of vehicle use.
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Apr 23, 2012

Still_leShandis

- on petrol alone i spend 2,5k a month, so SANRAL, bring and come, come the 30th i aint buying your tAGS or queue for registration.....

- i dont know how true this is, some1 told me that petrol garage owners only get about 30% of money while 70% goes to gvmnt...eg if petrol liter is R10, then owners get R3.......so with so much money, what is gvmnt doing with it......
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