N3TC has sent a notice to “Concession Holders” that informs them that as from June 1, 2017 the only way that “Concession Holders” will be able to access the concession tariff will be via the Automatic Electronic (Tag) payment system that is managed by SANRAL’s Transaction Clearing House (TCH).

This seems to be a unilateral change to the application of the concession rights of qualifying motorists. It seems to be an attempt by SANRAL through N3TC to extort from “Concession Holders” the e-tolls payable on other routes such as the Gauteng freeways.

Clearly it seems that any funds paid by a motorist, who qualifies for a concession, into their TCH accounts, which are apparently linked to all tolls throughout the country, will be allocated to clear any e-toll fees that may have accumulated by such motorists who have used roads where e-tolls operate.

This will mean that motorists who qualify for a concession may find that when they arrive at a toll where they are entitled to a concession the funds that they may have paid into the TCH account specifically for concession purposes have been unilaterally allocated to tolls accumulated at other e-tolls where no concession is available to those motorists.

The DA has written to the Minister of Transport to question as to on what authority this change to concession holders rights is being made?

Alf Lees MP
Shadow Deputy Minister of Finance
Democratic Alliance