The e-toll billing system will be deactivated in the New Year, which will bring an end to the Gauteng Freeway Improvement System (GFIP) electronic tolling gantries.
This comes weeks after Gauteng committed to pay 30% of the R43 billion GFIP debt.
In a statement on New Year’s Eve, Prime Minister Panyaza Lesufi’s office said “there will be no more to eliminate electronic tolls.”
“Today, December 31, 2022, is designated as the day to turn off the e-toll billing system. However, because it is necessary to finalize the key components of the MOU between the national government and
provincial government, the matter will be completed in the new year.
“The Premier is very pleased with the progress made by the technical team that has been tasked with shutting down the e-toll billing system.”
RELATED: Gauteng contributed R12.9 billion to the decommissioning of e-tolls
Gantries has been recording e-toll bills since its inception on December 3, 2013.
Some motorists boycott the tolling system, racking up bills to thousands of Rands over the years. Many cited the poor condition of alternative roads and the unreliable public transport system as reasons for not paying.
These civil violations are supported by lobby groups such as the Organization Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA), which has launched campaigns and court actions against e-tolls. Soon, the provincial government, various political parties and labor unions joined the boycott of the GFIP system.
The issue has stopped at the national government as the National Treasury has refused to abolish electronic tolls. The two governments are not looking at e-toll, sending contradictory messages on the controversial issue.
Read more: The e-toll is dead, but it could lead to budget cuts elsewhere for years
last month, The Sufis announced that the province has committed R12.9 billion for the decommissioning of the e-toll, which contributes 30% of the outstanding debt of R43 billion.
The provincial government also said it will negotiate a long-term repayment period on the 30% loan, and that period will be recommended by a technical team.
“The long-term payback period will ensure that we reduce the pressure on the provincial government’s fiscus, while maintaining the delivery of social services and other mandates such as fighting crime,” said Lesufi.
Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana has previously stated that the national government will assume 70% of Sanral’s debt, while Gauteng will assume 30%.
According to Lesufi’s spokesperson, Vuyo Mhaga, the notice to turn off the e-toll will be gazetted, with the actual turn off 14 days after.
“The Gazette will be released in early 2023, as agreed by the national Department of Transport.
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