E-toll tariffs are likely to increase in March

FEES for the e-toll system in Gauteng are set rise by almost five per cent from March 1.

This is according to the Automobile Association (AA) pointing to an announcement of the increases contained in a Government Gazette (#39695) issued on Tuesday, February 15.

“We are making motorists aware of these increases as the information does not appear on Sanral’s e-toll website, nor are we aware of any Sanral customers being directly informed thereof,” the association said.

“No mention of any adjustments to the capped limit for tagged users is made in the Government Gazette,” it said.

These increases to the toll rates come barely six months after the tariffs were reduced as a result of a public outcry, and discounts of up to 60 per cent were offered on outstanding balances before September 2015.

“This announcement is the latest move by Sanral, which appears to be intensifying its efforts to secure more payments for the tolling system,” the AA said.

It called on Sanral to be more upfront with its information, “and to try and win over support, rather than relying on other organisations such as ourselves to inform the media and the public”.

SANRAL’s decision to increase e-tolls at the end of February will be the last straw to break consumers’ backs if the government does not take immediate action to prevent it.

John Moodey, MPL, DA Gauteng provincial leader, said, “Gauteng is the engine room of South Africa’s economy and government must free it from the shackles of e-tolls and give life back to people who are slowly being suffocated.

“A ring-fenced fuel levy would spare Gauteng’s people the burden of e-tolls and would by now have settled the costs of the freeway improvement project had government implemented such a measure in 2008.”