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Pretoria - The presidency says e-tolling forms part of a much broader infrastructure plan, emphasising rail as the backbone to assist commuters.
Presidential spokesperson Mac Maharaj said in a news release that "some bits of information that were important for consumers to know appeared to have not found exposure into the public domain in a visible way".
Many Fin24 users have expressed concern and frustration with e-toll invoices and incorrect billing information.
The presidency said:
- One is that workers travelling in buses and taxis were exempted from e-tolls. These modes of transport pass through the gantries free of charge. Transport services in South Africa are ably supported by the minibus taxi industry, ferrying about 60% of the population in Gauteng daily. The taxis form an integral part of the integrated transport system value chain.
- Secondly, the Gauteng government has upgraded alternative roads to assist those not wanting to use the tolled roads and;
- Thirdly, there is a much broader infrastructure plan, emphasising rail as the backbone to assist commuters even further.
Maharaj said the project had come a long way. The SA national roads agency first submitted its Gauteng freeway improvement project proposal to government in 2006.
Gauteng, which generates nearly 38% of the total value of South Africa's economic activities, Maharaj said, had developed beyond its infrastructural capabilities with roads in general unable to keep up with increasing traffic demands.
This affected road users and the economy by the daunting peak-hour traffic periods each morning and evening, leading to limited family and leisure time and decreased productivity as employees lose productive hours due to negotiating traffic. After consultations and a lot of work, the proposal was accepted by Cabinet in mid-2007.
The public was given the opportunity to comment in 2007 by the democratic administration led by then president Thabo Mbeki and the rationale was outlined.
The statement went on to say that after the cabinet approval, Sanral upgraded the roads at a cost of R20bn. Funding for these improvements was sourced by Sanral through the sale of monthly bonds, which will be repaid over 24 years.
Government has adopted the "user pay" principle to enable the speedy and efficient delivery of transport infrastructure, said the statement.
Presidential spokesperson Mac Maharaj said in a news release that "some bits of information that were important for consumers to know appeared to have not found exposure into the public domain in a visible way".
Many Fin24 users have expressed concern and frustration with e-toll invoices and incorrect billing information.
The presidency said:
- One is that workers travelling in buses and taxis were exempted from e-tolls. These modes of transport pass through the gantries free of charge. Transport services in South Africa are ably supported by the minibus taxi industry, ferrying about 60% of the population in Gauteng daily. The taxis form an integral part of the integrated transport system value chain.
- Secondly, the Gauteng government has upgraded alternative roads to assist those not wanting to use the tolled roads and;
- Thirdly, there is a much broader infrastructure plan, emphasising rail as the backbone to assist commuters even further.
Maharaj said the project had come a long way. The SA national roads agency first submitted its Gauteng freeway improvement project proposal to government in 2006.
Gauteng, which generates nearly 38% of the total value of South Africa's economic activities, Maharaj said, had developed beyond its infrastructural capabilities with roads in general unable to keep up with increasing traffic demands.
This affected road users and the economy by the daunting peak-hour traffic periods each morning and evening, leading to limited family and leisure time and decreased productivity as employees lose productive hours due to negotiating traffic. After consultations and a lot of work, the proposal was accepted by Cabinet in mid-2007.
The public was given the opportunity to comment in 2007 by the democratic administration led by then president Thabo Mbeki and the rationale was outlined.
The statement went on to say that after the cabinet approval, Sanral upgraded the roads at a cost of R20bn. Funding for these improvements was sourced by Sanral through the sale of monthly bonds, which will be repaid over 24 years.
Government has adopted the "user pay" principle to enable the speedy and efficient delivery of transport infrastructure, said the statement.
