D-day for e-tolls judgment

Johannesburg - Gauteng motorists will hear the fate of the Gauteng e-tolling system on Thursday when judgment in the matter is handed down in the North Gauteng High Court.

"I don't have to say this, but judgment is reserved," Judge Louis Vorster said on November 28.

"I don't want to keep the public waiting and will be as expeditious as possible." 

The Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance (Outa) wanted the court to review and set aside the SA National Roads Agency Limited's (Sanral) decision to declare sections of Gauteng's freeways as toll roads.

Outa accused Sanral of deliberately keeping the public in the dark and being dishonest about the implementation of tolls in Gauteng.

David Unterhalter SC, for Sanral, rejected the claim as reckless. 

In September, the Constitutional Court overturned an interim order which had put a hold on the e-tolling project. 

The Constitutional Court found the High Court in North Gauteng had not considered the separation of powers between the high court and the executive. 

The High Court ruled on April 28 that a full review needed to be carried out before e-tolling could be implemented. 

Sanral and the National Treasury appealed against the court order, and said delays prevented the payment of the R21bn incurred in building the system.