Confusion at toll plazas

So disappointed in the toll system at Mvoti and Tongaat. I received my card after a wait of about three weeks – very pleased – only to be told by the screen at the Mvoti Toll, ‘No funds – top up’.

I had done an EFT of R200 and my husband an EFT of R800 at the end of July. On writing to the communications clerk at Tongaat, I was told it was a computer problem and fully expected it to be sorted soonest.

Today is August 14 and still not rectified.

I was told by the clerk that the cable had been stolen and they are still waiting for Telkom. Surely a big company like Sanral and Telkom could have sorted this out by now?

The clerk, named Ruth, very helpful I might add, advised me to ask the operators at the tolls to execute a manual transaction, as they are aware of the problem. She emailed me a print of the funds in the account.

Well – the operators stare at us blankly and pretend not to understand, or perhaps they actually don’t. With one or two exceptions I must add, but where is their training? And their manners to the public? Non-existent most of the time.

I eventually went to the Mvoti office to be told it is only those customers who did an EFT, if you deposited cash with them, or did a recent EFT, does the card work. Not sure how it can then be a “cable” related problem.

They hope to have it fixed by the end of next week!

In the meantime, they sit with my deposit, and my husband’s as well. We lose our concession and have to pay cash owing to the attitude of some of the operators.

I suppose the above is just a drop in the ocean of the whole sad state of “stolen equipment” and we just have to grin, wait and bear it? Or? Perhaps someone can explain the whole sad story.

JEN MOORE

Zinkwazi

The Tongaat toll plaza manager has not responded to a request for comment – Editor.