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E-tolls relief a trick, warns Outa

Cape Town - Relaxed conditions relating to the payment of e-tolls is another attempt to entice the public to adopt the system, the Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance (Outa) said in a statement on Wednesday.

Outa was responding to an announcement by Transport Minister Dipuo Peters in her budget vote speech on Tuesday that motorists will have an extended period to pay their e-toll bills.

Outa chairperson Wayne Duvenage said the minister's "reprieve" is in fact further evidence that the system is fundamentally ill-conceived, unworkable and destined for the scrap heap of history.

“We believe that this announcement serves two purposes, one being another carrot to entice the public buy-in to the ill-conceived scheme,” said Duvenage.

“Secondly, we believe the prosecuting authorities have noted an extreme difficulty exists in trying to achieve successful prosecution under the current regulations, terms and conditions."

He said an example of this complexity is that Sanral must provide the user with an invoice and then payment is expected within seven days to qualify for certain benefits.

However, Duvenage asked, how does one, especially businesses, pay within seven days, without an invoice?

Outa pointed out that discounts, relaxed conditions and threats of prosecution do not change the fact that e-tolling remains “expensive, irrational and inefficient”.

On Tuesday, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said two prosecutors will be working with the SA National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) to deal with non-payment of e-tolls.

"Section 27(5)(a) makes it an offence to refuse or fail to pay the amount of toll that is due and is punishable on conviction with imprisonment or a fine," the NPA said, according to Sapa.

Outa spokesperson John Clarke expressed concern over the review panel and the NPA going after e-toll offenders.

"It makes absolutely no sense whatsoever for one organ of state to pursue criminal prosecution over unpaid e-toll bills, while another organ of state is inviting public engagement to examine the impact that e-tolls is having on the productivity of the region, the social well-being of its people, and the implications for the environment”.

Clarke called on the NPA to work with Outa, saying they share a common interest to promote the rule of law.

Gauteng premier David Makhura appointed a panel of 15 people to assess the socio-economic impact of e-tolls in the province.

The panel would submit its findings and recommendations to the provincial government.

“The very existence of Makhura’s panel at this late stage itself proves Outa’s case that Sanral never did what it should have at the outset,” added Clarke.

 - Fin24

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