Nene confirms reduced monthly e-toll ceiling
The current monthly ceiling for registered e-toll users of R450 will be further reduced, but finance minister Nhlanhla Nene did not say what the new level will be.
FILE PICTURE: A e-toll gantry is seen along the N1 South highway, 9 October 2013. Picture: Tracy Lee Stark
Nene reaffirmed the user-pay principle and said cost recovery is the key foundation of infrastructure sustainability, together with fiscal support for access to essential services.
He supported Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa’s “balanced approach” to the e-toll matter and said a revised monthly ceiling will shortly be proposed in the light of concerns about the socio-economic impact of toll tariffs raised during the hearings of the Gauteng e-toll review panel.
He said national government will make provision for such costs in the adjustment budget later this year.
“Measures will also be taken to ease compliance and improve enforcement,” he said.
He added: “But cost recovery from road-users will continue to be the principal financing mechanism for this major road system”.
Nene told journalists the Gauteng e-toll review panel found that users have accepted the user-pay principle, but are concerned about the impact on their pockets.
In that context, the good characteristics of the system will be retained while steps are taken to improve compliance. He said it is important for future projects and extensions to the system without compromising Sanral or the fiscus.
