Publications
Partners
Cape Town - Seventy-one percent of Gauteng motorists do not have e-tage, said the Opposition for Urban Tolling Alliance (Outa).
A survey carried out by Outa shows that 71% of its second "statistically sound" sample size of 2 700 vehicles - counted during peak hour traffic at nine different on/off ramps during early February, three month into the system - did not have e-tags fitted.
This, said Outa in a statement, is an indication that "freeway users are largely steadfast and exercising strong levels of civil courage by not getting e-tagged to the levels required by Sanral (the SA National Roads Agency Limited)".
Outa’s previous research finding on December 12 2013 (within two weeks of the gantries going live) was that 15% of users had bought into the system.
"Those were the early start up days and we knew the number would climb in the first few months; however, with Sanral’s threatening behaviour we expected the e-tag uptake to be much higher by now,” said Outa spokesperson John Clarke.
“Despite Sanral’s intimidation tactics, Outa has been pleasently surprised at the civil courage of Gauteng citizens who have largely resisted and displayed a relatively low e-tag uptake,” said Clarke.
He added that compliance levels have to be well over the 85% level to indicate successful implementation of e-tolling. With less than a third of freeway users tagged up at this stage, Outa believes the system is headed for failure, "as it has in many parts of the world under even more favourable conditions".
"Clearly, Sanral’s multi-million rand marketing scheme has failed to inspire public confidence in their systems, which, compounded by security breaches, offensive remarks by their spokesperson, misleading statements, chaotic billing and erroneous data have done extreme harm to the legitimacy of the system,” said Outa.
President Jacob Zuma recently said Sanral e-toll billing mistakes are "unacceptable", which prompted Sanral CEO Nazir Alli to promise swift remedial action.
"However, complaints coming to Outa and other social media sites have not abated, with large fleet owners and logistic companies now adding their voices of concern and anger at the cumbersome adminisration and high cost impact that e-tolling is having on business," said Outa.
With President Zuma facing the most difficult year in his entire political career, "he doesn’t need the e-tolling albatross also hanging around his neck", said Outa.
"Outa calls on the president to display some civil courage in his State of the Nation speech on Thursday, by calling off the ill-conceived e-tolling system."
Zuma would do well to heed calls from Outa, trade union Cosatu and other bodies "to decontaminate the toxic public/political space ahead of the upcoming general election", said Outa.
"Admitting mistakes doesn’t come naturally to politicians and if President Zuma has aspirations to strong statesmanship, that is what he should do."
A survey carried out by Outa shows that 71% of its second "statistically sound" sample size of 2 700 vehicles - counted during peak hour traffic at nine different on/off ramps during early February, three month into the system - did not have e-tags fitted.
This, said Outa in a statement, is an indication that "freeway users are largely steadfast and exercising strong levels of civil courage by not getting e-tagged to the levels required by Sanral (the SA National Roads Agency Limited)".
Outa’s previous research finding on December 12 2013 (within two weeks of the gantries going live) was that 15% of users had bought into the system.
"Those were the early start up days and we knew the number would climb in the first few months; however, with Sanral’s threatening behaviour we expected the e-tag uptake to be much higher by now,” said Outa spokesperson John Clarke.
“Despite Sanral’s intimidation tactics, Outa has been pleasently surprised at the civil courage of Gauteng citizens who have largely resisted and displayed a relatively low e-tag uptake,” said Clarke.
He added that compliance levels have to be well over the 85% level to indicate successful implementation of e-tolling. With less than a third of freeway users tagged up at this stage, Outa believes the system is headed for failure, "as it has in many parts of the world under even more favourable conditions".
"Clearly, Sanral’s multi-million rand marketing scheme has failed to inspire public confidence in their systems, which, compounded by security breaches, offensive remarks by their spokesperson, misleading statements, chaotic billing and erroneous data have done extreme harm to the legitimacy of the system,” said Outa.
President Jacob Zuma recently said Sanral e-toll billing mistakes are "unacceptable", which prompted Sanral CEO Nazir Alli to promise swift remedial action.
"However, complaints coming to Outa and other social media sites have not abated, with large fleet owners and logistic companies now adding their voices of concern and anger at the cumbersome adminisration and high cost impact that e-tolling is having on business," said Outa.
With President Zuma facing the most difficult year in his entire political career, "he doesn’t need the e-tolling albatross also hanging around his neck", said Outa.
"Outa calls on the president to display some civil courage in his State of the Nation speech on Thursday, by calling off the ill-conceived e-tolling system."
Zuma would do well to heed calls from Outa, trade union Cosatu and other bodies "to decontaminate the toxic public/political space ahead of the upcoming general election", said Outa.
"Admitting mistakes doesn’t come naturally to politicians and if President Zuma has aspirations to strong statesmanship, that is what he should do."
