Resolve e-toll nonpayment row now – AA

The more urgent issue for Gauteng motorists is a need to resolve the ongoing impasse regarding payment or non-payment of e-tolls, the Automobile Association (AA) said on Tuesday.

The AA believes road agency Sanral’s "continued heavy-handed approach" to motorists is among the main reasons for the current payment boycott. It would like to see this issue resolved to provide Gauteng motorists with a way forward.

The AA reacted to the saga between Sanral and the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) regarding the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project (GFIP).

In response to a report by Outa on the costs of the GFIP, Sanral alleged on Tuesday that Outa’s report is filled with inaccuracies, and misrepresentations, and cannot be taken seriously.

"While the issues raised by Outa, and the subsequent response by Sanral, are important, and speak to significant matters of collusion, price fixing, and corruption, the AA believes this is not the most immediate and pressing concern to SA motorists, especially those in Gauteng who use the GFIP roads," the AA said.

"However, we believe the more urgent issue for Gauteng motorists is a need to resolve the ongoing impasse regarding payment or non-payment of e-tolls, especially against the backdrop of Sanral’s recent threats to issue summons to individuals and companies."

At the same time, the AA said it believes the matters raised by Outa relating to the costs of the GFIP must be brought to finality swiftly.

“While we acknowledge that the payment of e-tolls is legislated, we cannot ignore the fact that a significant number of Gauteng road users are not paying their e-toll accounts. We believe this issue will eventually end in court where a decision on the validity of the debts is made," the AA said.

"This is what Gauteng motorists are concerned about now, and efforts to resolve this should be a priority for all concerned."

The AA emphasised that it maintains its position that reserving a dedicated portion of the fuel levy is still the best funding model for e-tolls, as the cost is not amplified by administration and collection costs.

“We have said this many times before: the funding of roads is not the issue. The real issue, we believe, is the mechanism chosen to fund the GFIP," said the AA.

Last week Outa said Sanral had started sending letters of final demand to Gauteng motorists who have boycotted paying their e-toll fees. This was after Sanral had warned road users on March 21 that motorists who have refused to settle their e-toll debt would start getting civil summonses.