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The controversial electronic toll system has been going on for more than six years, with many motorists either refusing to pay or simply unable to pay the additional cost each month.
Skhumbuzo Macozoma, executive director of Sanral. Image: @ SANRAL_za / Twitter
JOHANNESBURG – South African National Highway Agency (Sanral) executive director Skhumbuzo Macozoma said the time for discussions on electronic tolls was over because, with deteriorating roads and poor revenue collection, the country needed make a final decision.
The controversial electronic toll system has been going on for more than six years, with many motorists either refusing to pay or simply unable to pay the additional cost each month.
Eyewitness news sat down with the head of the highway agency, which has experienced losses of more than R640 million due to the closure.
LOOK: Sanral lost more than R640 million due to the total blockade of COVID-19
Macozoma said that the delay in road infrastructure for national, provincial and municipal highways amounted to more than R400 billion.
“I think the time to promote the interests of specific pressure groups is over, we need to make a firm decision.”
He said that one way or another, this money had to come from somewhere to improve the roads and maintain the infrastructure.
“If the decision is that we do not use private financing to help in the development and maintenance of the road infrastructure, the people must prepare to finance the government that pays this money, otherwise the roads will be damaged. Sanral will simply be another road authority that is not capable of managing its network and will have potholes on national roads and highways. “
The cabinet still needs to make a final announcement on what will happen to electronic tolls after strong opposition prompted the government to consider other options to pay for the Gauteng Highway Improvement Project.
However, a final decision appears to have had a snag as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
THE CABINET’S DECISION ON ELECTRONIC TOLLS SHOULD BE IN THE INTEREST OF SA
Macozoma said the cabinet’s final decision on the future of electronic tolls should be in the interest of the entire country and the economy.
In December, it will mark seven years since controversial electronic toll gates were put into operation on Gauteng roads and seven years of strong opposition.
Only 20% of motorists using the Gauteng Highway Improvement Project roads pay for it, as it was designed to shift the financial burden onto road users.
Macozoma claimed that if citizens were successful and private financing of electronic tolls was eliminated, it would have far-reaching business implications.
“Which will create confusion that not all of us need, because if the decision is made to withdraw the plan in Gauteng, other parts of the country will ask why they should pay when the people of Gauteng do not. That is a debate we do not want. We need something to sustain the country ”.
Macozoma said that toll projects worth R150 billion had been frozen due to strong objection to electronic tolls.
The highway agency said the longer these projects were postponed, they could cost 18 times the original price.
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