E-tolls: Local residents puzzled by accounts

POLOKWANE – A Polokwane resident who did not wish to be identified showed Review an e-mail from the Sanral Violations Processing Centre (VPC) requesting payment for using the Gauteng toll roads.

She said she does not dispute the fact that the family used the toll roads, but wondered how the e-mail came to her e-mail address.

The couple drove through gantries from Johannesburg to the Grassmere Toll plaza on December 23 and returned to Polokwane a week later.

“The car is not registered in my name, but in my husband’s name. How did I receive an e-mail? Where do they get my work e-mail address and where do they get the amount from?” she asked.

In the e-mail dated January 8, she was requested to pay “outstanding e-toll transactions to the value of R235,86 for outstanding e-tolls transactions older than seven days”.

A reference number was given in the e-mail.

She was asked to contact the VPC at their call centre number to arrange payment and was also informed that early settlement would result in a discount on the outstanding amount.

Two weeks later, her husband received an invoice by mail. The family did receive a discount when paying and they paid around R94 for their trip.

Another Limpopo resident who used the main highways received their account timeously to pay within the required seven days.

Some have not yet received invoices at all.

One Limpopo visitor to Gauteng on January 1 has not received an invoice yet, although others using e-toll roads on January 6 have received their invoices.

Another e-toll road user received three letters, marked correspondence, by mail in one week, an account statement, a copy tax invoice and a transaction report.

“How can they waste such a huge amount of money?

They could just have sent about three pages with all the neccesary information.

It became confusing to read through all the documentation to see what they actually wanted,” he said.

Two Polokwane residents who spoke to Review received e-toll accounts although they have not been driving on e-toll roads at all.

DA leader Jacques Smalle said Limpopo residents who have recently visited Gauteng were receiving bills long after their due date for payment.

He said the e-toll system was in complete chaos.

“The invoices have no contact details to allow road users to communicate directly with Sanral. There are no provincial offices in Limpopo where citizens can make enquiries about the invoices.

“This clearly indicates that the e-tolling system is not effective. It is a mess and is costing both government and regular motorists way too much,” he said.

Smalle called on residents to reject the system by not buying e-tags and not paying their bills. He said the DA will seek an urgent meeting with the transport MEC, Lehlogonolo Masoga to raise these issues, demanding his immediate intervention.

“Limpopo residents should be shielded from the administrative chaos in Gauteng,” Smalle said.

He said Limpopo citizens with similar issues can send an email to the DA at enocencn@da.org.co.za or tweet to @da_news.

“We will take up their issues and resolve them where possible.”

Taxis, who are not supposed to pay e-tolls are also receiving accounts.

The chairperson of the Limpopo Provincial Taxi Council, Lentsoane Robert Seboke confirmed this, but said said the issue was adressed by the national taxi council.

According to Sanral, only registered taxis would qualify for exemption from paying e-tolls.