Peters: Billing is just one part of e-tolls

Johannesburg - With e-tolling on the Gauteng e-roads set to commence on the 3rd December, it is important to note that the system has been up and running for over 18 months, Minister of Transport Dipuo Peters said on Sunday.

She said suring this period, SA National Roads Agency (Sanral) has had the time to test the system in a live environment, although without any transactions or billing taking place.

"But billing is just one component of the system," she said. 

"Let me at the outset thank the media for their sustained interest in this important project in our country. Also thank you, to those of you, who have covered this project fairly, positively and objectively."

She said Sanral is ready and expects a smooth beginning to the actual collection of tolls on the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project (GFIP), come the 3rd of December.

The GFIP system is a sophisticated system and on-road services comprise of emergency medical responses in the event of an incident, towing services and constant monitoring of traffic flow on the Gauteng freeway network, according to Peters.

The objective is to improve the safety of motorists – particularly in the event of an incident – and reduce the impact of incidents on the flow of traffic.

In the past year the units responsible for implementing these services have responded to over 4 000 incidents. These incidents include crashes, stranded vehicles, breakdowns and medical assistance.

The cameras that are mounted on the gantries enables Sanral to capture every vehicle that is using the e-tolled network.

"Everything happens electronically. Motorists do not have to stop in the middle of a busy highway in order to manually pay their tolls. They drive at normal highway speed and as they pass a toll gantry, they are charged electronically and can pay their tolls electronically too," said Peters.

"This is what e-tolling means: the electronic collection and payment of toll fees. It is simply an electronic method that enables a toll transaction to take place."

She said she also wanted to dispel the myth that all the revenue from e-tolls will be going offshore, since there are local firms too that are participants and service providers of various aspects of the system.

"The system has already won an international award for technology, thus underlining the excellence of the work Sanral and South Africans in general are capable of," she said.

"For all the benefits and the spinoffs emanating from this project, money has had to be spent and will still need to spent. I implore motorists and citizens to join hands with us in building road infrastructure and creating jobs. Their e-toll fees will be going towards a good causes and strategic priorities, namely infrastructure development and job creation."

She also encouraged motorists who will be using the e-tolled roads to obtain their e-tags so that they can qualify for the 48% discount and the other related discounts.

"We thank those motorists and businesses that have already purchased and/or fitted their vehicles with e-tags. We are particularly thankful to the banks, car rental companies and other fleet managers for cooperating with us," she said.

"Let me single out the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry for the progressive and nation-building stance it has taken on this matter by encouraging its members and business in general to get their vehicles tagged."