The bright orange e-toll registration outlets, operated by the SA National Roads Agency Ltd (Sanral), are in shopping malls and alongside highways across Gauteng for motorists to register for discount toll fees.

Some outlets have self-help computers for those who don’t need direct help, as well as flat screen televisions sets and comfortable chairs in anticipation of the queues.

Yet, despite being staffed with between three to five cashiers and a branch supervisor, outlets had no customers on Thursday when Sapa reporter Carol Campbell visited them.

At one, a cashier was painting her nails while another was reading a magazine.

At Maponya mall in Soweto, human resources consultant Tshepo Tsotetsi was the only registration in an hour.

“I registered my wife and myself with a heavy heart. I don’t want to break the law and I use the highways all the time getting around for work,” he said.

“But I didn’t do it in good faith.” 

At the same mall Bafana Mkhabela took an e-toll registration brochure.

“I use my mom’s car to get to college in Centurion and, although I don’t want to register, she thinks I should,” the third-year computer student said.

“It’s going to cost our family a lot though, because I go through four tolls just to get to college.” 

At Cresta centre in Randburg, the e-toll outlet was empty, despite three cashiers waiting for customers.

Businessman Tertius Barnardt, who uses the post office next door daily said he had never seen anyone inside.

“Yesterday I took a pamphlet from a woman handing them out at a traffic light,” he said, “she was so delighted and surprised that I was even prepared to take one”. 

Barnardt said he was still unsure if he would register.

“In Gauteng, we are up to our necks in fees and taxes,” he said, "and where is the money for this going to go?” 

Lwando Malotana, a training consultant from Randpark Ridge, said he was hoping the whole project would be scrapped before he had to register.

“I watched what happened with the national strike in March and I have been following the debate with interest,” he said, referring to the protest against e-tolling by trade union federation Cosatu.

“I will wait and see and maybe register just before the tolls go online.” 

San Ridge Square in Midrand was busy on Thursday, the parking area full, but the e-toll outlet empty.

This area would be heavily affected by the e-tolls on the N1, which links the area with Johannesburg and Pretoria. At this e-toll outlet, five staff chatted with each other to pass the time.

Stephen Maupi, a credit controller for a cellphone company, said he commuted from Randburg to his office in Midrand, and constantly moved around Gauteng visiting stores.

“In South Africa these things are proposed and then we just have to pay. I would like to know more about this Austrian company that has been involved with the e-tolls and where the money from all of this is going to go.” 

Michael Mafagane, a maintenance worker commuting weekly from Pretoria to Midrand, said he welcomed the move to exempt public transport from e-tolls.

“There are a lot of cars with just one person in them driving on this highway. Maybe it’s time people started using public transport to save on e-toll fees. This is one way of cutting down the traffic on our roads.” 

At Benmore shopping centre, three cashiers watched the clock until going-home time. The mall was busy but no-one was at the e-toll outlet.

Douglasdale retiree Robin James had no intention to register for the e-toll.

“If the authorities can’t get an electricity bill right, why would I give them access to my bank account for the e-toll?” he asked.

“No, we have had enough. They (Sanral) can send me a bill. If they can find me.” 

Comments

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Mon May 20 20:29:47 SAST 2013 ::

Apr 13, 2012

Shredder

They are going to victimize the non-paying citizens by sending letters at home. United we stand, these things must go away
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Apr 13, 2012

Tlhakajeng

It serves them right. To hell with e-toll.Nxa!!
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Apr 13, 2012

tumzangwana

“No, we have had enough. They (Sanral) can send me a bill. If they can find me.”
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i dont know you but i like you Robin J. if they can find you neh? kwakwakwakwakwakwakwakwakwa!!!!!!!

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Apr 13, 2012

Socrates

This time the governement will learn the hard way and fro then on they will respect citizens' unity and eventually they will humble themsleves knowing who actually governs
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Apr 13, 2012

MommaC

So does this waste of time and money also go onto the bloated tender bill to pay back?
Good news is there are some lucky people who got to get a salary for doing nothing, bad news is that they will probably try and make it our fault somehow.
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Apr 13, 2012

ProphetofGod

What were they expecting? This will be norm even after April, We pay already a lot in terms of our taxes and fuel levies. If they can't fix and improve the state of our roads from those funds that are already there they should just leave us alone. This will be the biggest show of public disobedience since the dawn of democracy..Away with e-tolls Away..
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Apr 13, 2012

MsKinkyakaKamaSutra

Some outlets have self-help computers for those who don’t need direct help, as well as flat screen televisions sets and comfortable chairs in anticipation of the queues
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You can anticpate all you want shame, paying DSTV for mahala.........

Go fu*&^ yourselves for all I care

No to e-tolls, not to e-tolls *singing in struggle song tune*
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Apr 13, 2012

maezizsto68

Those who bought e-Tags are traitors.
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Apr 13, 2012

Babe007

UNITED WE STAND.... it will cost them even more sending us those bills that we will be ignoring as well. What will they do take da whole of Gauteng road users to court?
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Apr 13, 2012

rahima

You can all remember the years of road construction when we were often down to one lane. The bottlenecks. The wasted hours while we waited for the road improvements.

We were told it was for the World Cup. Suffer now and the benefit of the Cup will be forever.

So now, after our suffering, Scamral wants to charge us? We were told all the Billions to be made from the World Cup would pay.

Where is all that FIFA money?

We have been scammed. We sat in blockages on the roads for years, believing we were doing our bit for the Cup. Now eToll.

Scamral can shove their eTag in their gantry.

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