Johannesburg - The government was warned in 2010 that
collection costs for the controversial e-toll system would be considerably
higher than a petrol levy or tax, Beeld newspaper reported on Monday.
This emerged from an economic analysis report of the Gauteng
Freeway Improvement Project, which was overseen by the University of Cape Town,
and given to the SA National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) in 2010.
"To pay for roads through taxation, or through a fuel
levy, is simply cheaper than imposing a toll on the roads, even if it's done
through an open road tolling system.
"The costs of collection are lower, because
they don't include the costs of toll collection," the report said.
The high court in Pretoria last month halted the e-toll
project in Gauteng, ruling that Sanral was forbidden from levying or collecting
e-tolls pending the outcome of a judicial review.
Sanral CEO Nazir Alli has since resigned. The government is
in the process of appealing the judgment.