Share

Buy e-tags, urges Sanral

Pretoria - E-tolling of Gauteng freeways got the legal nod on Thursday when the North Gauteng High Court dismissed an application to have the project scrapped. 

"The application is dismissed," Judge Louis Vorster said, reading out his judgment. 

"In my view the application cannot succeed." 

Vorster ruled that the Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance, as the applicant, should pay the costs of the SA national Roads Agency limited (Sanral), the transport department, National Treasury, the MEC of roads and transport in Gauteng, minister of water and environmental affairs and the director general of the department. 

"The applicants are ordered to pay jointly and severally the costs reserved by the Constitutional Court to the respondents who participated in that appeal before the Constitutional Court." 

He said the costs order included the cost of counsel. 

Buy e-tags

After the judgment, Sanral CEO Nazir Alli was seen hugging his colleagues. He said he was pleased with the outcome. 

"We are not here to crook, we are not going to be shedding any kind of crocodile tears or anything of that sort," he told reporters. 

"We are here to implement government policy. I would like all of us to turn around and respect the decision of the courts. 

"It is unfortunate that Outa showed total disregard and disrespect for the decision of the Constitutional Court." 

He appealed to the media to report "correctly and truthfully" on the e-toll matter, saying there had been untruths, lies and half-truths published against Sanral. 

Alli urged people to buy e-tags. 

Outa chairperson Wayne Duvenhage shook his head after Voster made his judgment. 

"I think today's judgment represents a sad day for South Africa's democracy as it demonstrates government's ability to railroad public engagement policy and thereby make decisions that are not in the best interest of society," he said. 

"The outcome also sends a clear message about the lack of importance of citizens' input, and will have an input in society's feeling powerless against the state, and its bulldozer tactics in driving its own agendas and policies." 

He said the decision would have an impact on South Africa's global image. 

Outa was never opposed to society paying for infrastructure upgrades, Duvenhage said. 

Outa believed Sanral would never be ready to launch e-tolling. 

"We sincerely ask Sanral and government to reconsider their decision to toll our urban freeways," Duvenhage said. 

"We now call on Gauteng motorists to not purchase e-tags, as legally they are not obliged to do so." 

Duvenhage said his legal team would study the judgment before deciding the way forward. 

Director-general George Mahlalela said it was unclear when e-tolling would begin, saying the minister would make an announcement. 

"We are pleased with the judgment, we think that it closes a chapter and gives us an opportunity to move forward," he said. 

"The minister will very soon announce, after all the submissions were made, the way forward. We are still working on the details." 

Vorster found that the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project scheme was done lawfully.

In September, the Constitutional Court overturned an interim order putting the Gauteng e-tolling project on hold. 

The Constitutional Court found the North Gauteng High Court had not considered the separation of powers between the high court and the executive. 

On April 28, the high court granted the interdict to Outa, ruling that a full review needed to be carried out before e-tolling could be put into effect. 

The interdict prevented Sanral from levying or collecting e-tolls pending the outcome of the review.

 
We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Rand - Dollar
19.00
-0.3%
Rand - Pound
24.08
+0.1%
Rand - Euro
20.59
-0.0%
Rand - Aus dollar
12.36
+0.5%
Rand - Yen
0.13
+0.7%
Platinum
902.95
+0.1%
Palladium
998.75
-0.7%
Gold
2,152.67
-0.4%
Silver
24.90
-0.6%
Brent Crude
86.89
+1.8%
Top 40
65,873
-0.6%
All Share
72,094
-0.5%
Resource 10
53,208
-0.2%
Industrial 25
99,450
-1.0%
Financial 15
16,627
+0.0%
All JSE data delayed by at least 15 minutes Iress logo
Company Snapshot
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE
Government tenders

Find public sector tender opportunities in South Africa here.

Government tenders
This portal provides access to information on all tenders made by all public sector organisations in all spheres of government.
Browse tenders