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Cape Town - The Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance (Outa) said on Monday it believed the SA National Roads Agency (Sanral) is pushing ahead with plans to prosecute motorists who have not paid their e-toll bills.
Outa said in a statement that it had reason to believe that "Sanral is planning to have the prosecuting authorities issue summons to a handful of 'violators' who have not paid their e-toll bills".
Outa said this move was in a bid to seek a successful prosecution for non payment.
"This ‘stick’ approach follows after Sanral's recent discounts offered to entice greater compliance, a tactic that has produced very little success for them. A decision to prosecute non-payers will be their final ‘role of the e-toll dice’, in an attempt to induce greater compliance," said Outa.
Outa also expressed concern that any attempt to prosecute freeway users could derail plans announced by Gauteng Premier David Makhura that a panel will be commissioned to review and assess the impact of the electronic tolling system.
Outa is now calling on Sanral to indicate whether it will halt plans that it or the NPA may have to prosecute freeway users until the completion of Makhura's initiative.
"Failing a concise message from Sanral in this regard, Outa will have no alternative but to commence with its fund raising campaign so as to ensure any attempt to criminally prosecute a freeway user is defended by the best available lawyers," it said.
Outa spokesperson John Clarke indicated that the organisation is open to working with Makhura to find alternative funding options for the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project (GFIP).
“Outa’s priority has always been to propose and encourage more efficient alternatives for the funding of the GFIP. If indeed we are invited to do so, we will work with the new Gauteng premier accordingly," said Clark.
Attempts to obtain comment from Sanral in this regard, has been unsuccessful.
- Fin24
Outa said in a statement that it had reason to believe that "Sanral is planning to have the prosecuting authorities issue summons to a handful of 'violators' who have not paid their e-toll bills".
Outa said this move was in a bid to seek a successful prosecution for non payment.
"This ‘stick’ approach follows after Sanral's recent discounts offered to entice greater compliance, a tactic that has produced very little success for them. A decision to prosecute non-payers will be their final ‘role of the e-toll dice’, in an attempt to induce greater compliance," said Outa.
Outa also expressed concern that any attempt to prosecute freeway users could derail plans announced by Gauteng Premier David Makhura that a panel will be commissioned to review and assess the impact of the electronic tolling system.
Outa is now calling on Sanral to indicate whether it will halt plans that it or the NPA may have to prosecute freeway users until the completion of Makhura's initiative.
"Failing a concise message from Sanral in this regard, Outa will have no alternative but to commence with its fund raising campaign so as to ensure any attempt to criminally prosecute a freeway user is defended by the best available lawyers," it said.
Outa spokesperson John Clarke indicated that the organisation is open to working with Makhura to find alternative funding options for the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project (GFIP).
“Outa’s priority has always been to propose and encourage more efficient alternatives for the funding of the GFIP. If indeed we are invited to do so, we will work with the new Gauteng premier accordingly," said Clark.
Attempts to obtain comment from Sanral in this regard, has been unsuccessful.
- Fin24
