Gazetted Gauteng toll tariffs suspended

Tariffs gazetted for the tolling of Gauteng highways will be suspended until further notice, Transport Minister Sbu Ndebele said on Tuesday.

The announcement does not mean a change in the rolling out of the system in June, leaving only three months to deliberate and come to a conclusion.

This comes after he met Gauteng Premier Nomvula Mokonyane.

A panel of experts, made up of representatives from the transport department, the South African National Roads Agency Limited and the Gauteng government, will also review the financial model on which the R20-billion transaction was based.

“The premier and I agree on the principle of tolling. Government reiterates its commitment to fully honouring the terms of the loan agreement for this transaction,” said Ndebele.

“We will be engaging with the investors to keep them in the loop and assure them that we remain fully committed to the repayment of the R20-billion loan.”

Structured process of consultation
Mokonyane said it would be unfair to say that the government took a long time before reacting to concerns.

A structured process of consultation and one for input from the public on the cost structure and financial model will soon be announced.

“South Africans can be best assured that government is doing everything possible to resolve this matter in a manner that will be in the best interests of the commuter, road user and the state for future development and management of our road infrastructure in the country,” Mokonyane said.

Consultations would at most take a month, before the rolling out of the toll system in June.

“We need to give commuters options,” she said.

Tempers flared after it was announced that in June it will cost 66c/km at the 42 electronic toll gates erected on the N1, N3, N12, N17, R21 and R24.

The toll roads cover a distance of about 185km.

Concern was raised by businesses, labour and political parties about the effect toll fees will have on the poor, the economy and alternative routes.—Sapa