Tuesday 24 November, 2015 - 15:09
Gauteng’s government is to contribute R123 million towards the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project (GFIP) to pay for shortfalls in the contentious e-tolling system.
But the Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance (OUTA) says the amount is being wasted and could be better spent, adding that, “… This has serious consequences for Gauteng taxpayers… and is a waste.”
Monday 2 November, 2015 - 16:10
Anti e-toll group, Opposition for Urban Tolling Alliance (OUTA) has launched a new ‘e-toll defensive umbrella campaign’ to provide legal support to members summonsed for non-payment of e-toll fees.
This comes as the South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL) announced that Gauteng road users are eligible for a 60 percent reduction of their historic e-toll in arrears from 2 November 2015.
Road users with outstanding e-toll debt incurred from 3 December 2013 until 31 August 2015 now have six months to settle their accounts, or make payment arrangements.
Monday 5 October, 2015 - 14:57
Western Cape High Court judge Ashley Binns-Ward ruled in favour of the City of Cape Town when he set aside the South African National Roads Agency’s (SANRAL) Winelands Tolling Project.
City of Cape Town mayor, Patricia de Lille, described the Western Cape High Court’s decision to scrap the Winelands Toll Roads Project as a ‘victory for all South Africans’.
Judge Ashley Binns-Ward set aside the SANRAL’s decision to toll sections of the N1 and N2 and also set aside the Transport Minister’s 2008 decision to declare sections of the N1 and N2 as toll roads.
Monday 5 October, 2015 - 14:49
The South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL) has been left to contemplate its legal options in the wake of losing its fight to proceed with tolling in the Western Cape.
This follows a ruling by the Western Cape High Court Judge, Ashley Binns-Ward, ruled in favour of the City of Cape Town, effectively scrapping the Winelands Toll Project.
In his judgement, the transport minister’s 2008 decision declaring the N1 and N2 as toll roads was set aside, along with SANRAL’s attempts to have portions of the roads tolled.
Thursday 20 August, 2015 - 10:33
The Justice Project South Africa (JPSA) has questioned the provincial authority’s ‘apparent involvement’ in the celebrity e-tolls advertisements.
JPSA chairperson, Howard Dembovsky, points out that, “With so many other urgent issues which require funding in Gauteng‚ it is surprising that the Gauteng Provincial Government would choose to spend money on producing and airing‚ as well as paying so-called ‘celebrities’ to promote e-tolling instead of spending it where it is truly needed.”
Tuesday 21 July, 2015 - 15:03
The Justice Project South Africa (JPSA) has ‘extended its sincere gratitude’ to the South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL)‚ its spokesman Vusi Mona and its public relations company, Meropa Communications, for “discrediting themselves even further by reacting in such a childish‚ emotional and grossly uninformed manner.”
This follows what the JPSA described as their “temper tantrum over the banning of yet another one of its e-tolling advertisements” by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) this week.
Wednesday 24 June, 2015 - 10:38
The Justice Project South Africa (JPSA) says any amendments to the e-road regulations under the South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL) Act to withhold car licence discs on the basis of outstanding e-tolls must first be published for public comment.
JPSA national chairperson, Howard Dembovsky, argues that the first meaningful clarity on the new e-tolls dispensation announced recently by Deputy President, Cyril Ramaphosa, “exposed continued smoke and mirrors – again.”
Monday 23 March, 2015 - 11:26
Gauteng Premier, David Makhura has made the clearest indication yet that Gauteng’s hated e-toll system is here to stay - irrespective of widespread public opposition.
Makhura set up a panel in July 2014 that for eight months deliberated the socio-economic impact of e-tolls on residents, creating an expectation that Gauteng’s e-tolls could be scrapped.
The advisory panel did not reject the e-toll system outright, however. Instead, it recommended the implementation of a hybrid option involving a combination of e-tolls and other funding sources.
Friday 18 July, 2014 - 14:36
The Congress of South Africa Trade Unions (COSATU) has advised motorists not to pay for e-tolls.
COSATU says it is angered by the government for disrespecting the decision by Gauteng Premier, David Makhura, to appoint a panel to study the impact of e-tolls.
Last week, the Premier announced a panel of 15 people to assess the socio-economic impact of e-tolls in the province, and on Tuesday, Transport Minister, Dipuo Peters, told MP's in parliament that there will be a ‘reprieve’ for the users of Gauteng's toll roads.
Friday 18 July, 2014 - 14:24
The South African Congress of Trade Unions (COSATU) says the e-toll reprieve announced by Transport Minister, Dipuo Peters, means nothing as government policy on e-tolls has not changed.
In a press statement, COSATU spokesperson, Patrick Craven, points out that, "This move is an attempt to respond to the huge opposition to e-tolls and the widespread refusal to pay them."
Craven adds that COSATU sees no evidence that it marks any change of government policy, especially since the minister told MPs this is being done to make it easier for people to comply with e-tolls.
