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E-tags mooted for KZN motorists

Witness Reporter , The Witness

Durban - E-tags, the controversial wireless toll road payment system introduced in Gauteng this week, will be introduced into KwaZulu-Natal by 2014.

The 14 tollgates in KZN, through a phased approach beginning with the Mooi River toll plaza on the N3, will be introducing the e-tag facility.

The e-toll system went live in Gauteng at midnight on Monday. It makes use of gantries with cameras that automatically read electronic tags pre-fitted on vehicles, or read the car registration number and then charge the driver immediately.

N3 Toll Concession, the company operating the tolled N3 highway from Pietermaritzburg to Heidelberg, said they have “already been testing” the e-tag. The Mooi River system should be operational by late 2014.

Company marketing manager Andrea Visser confirmed there would not be further tolling along the N3, one of South Africa’s busiest roads, but that the electronic system will allow “an additional method of payment”.

“This would not see us doing away with the current toll plazas nor are we bringing in gantries onto the N3,” said Visser.

She said e-tag holders would not pay a lower rate.

Last year Sanral announced that e-tags bought for Gauteng freeways will be valid at toll plazas country wide.

Andrew Layman, chairperson of the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said he does not believe the e-toll system introduced into Johannesburg will be rolled out in Durban.

“We as a chamber are against this principle. It is unfair to toll people for using a road simply for commuting to and from work. The national fuel levy should adequately address the needs of road infrastructure within cities,” said Layman.

- The Witness

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