E-tolling on Gauteng roads will begin within the next two months, the roads agency Sanral said on Thursday.
“What we are now waiting for is the completion of the parliamentary process, half of which is already done,” Sanral spokesman Vusi Mona said in a statement.
“As soon as the national council of provinces finalises the Transport and Related Matters Amendment Bill, the bill will go back to the national assembly for adoption.”
The bill legalises e-tolling of the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project and was approved in the national assembly.
Mona said transport minister Ben Martins would then announce the tariffs, followed by the necessary notice periods. “That whole process will take about two months to complete. Thereafter e-tolling will start,” said Mona.
Mona encouraged motorists to register for their e-tags to qualify for discounts and avoid the last minute rush. So far, around 600 000 people had registered for e-tags.
“We have a responsibility to collectively build this country and are grateful that there are individual and corporate citizens who see the value of this project and are prepared to play their part in this regard.”
In April last year, the high court in Pretoria granted the Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance (Outa) an interdict approving a full judicial review before electronic tolling could be put into effect. The interdict prevented Sanral from levying or collecting e-tolls pending the outcome of a review.
Sanral and national treasury appealed the court order. In September, the constitutional court set aside the interim order. In December, an application by Outa to scrap e-tolling was dismissed by the high court in Pretoria.
The court granted Outa leave, on 25 January, to take the matter to the supreme court of appeal in Bloemfontein. A date for the supreme court hearing has yet to be set. — Sapa