President Jacob Zuma is concerned about incorrect billing by roads agency Sanral for e-tolls in Gauteng, SABC News reported.
“We are often told electronic things don’t commit mistakes. I think it is unacceptable because it is causing an unnecessary problem,” he said in an interview.
“You can’t then bill people wrongly. It is a matter that needs to be fixed, and be fixed very quickly because it undermines an efficient system.”
He said Sanral had to deal with the problem.
“We have raised the matter with them. We have in fact raised the matter very formally with the department [of transport] and with the agency itself and it is a matter they are working on.”
Zuma’s comments follow reports that motorists received threatening SMSes and e-mails demanding payment for e-tolls without verification. Some people reported receiving bills, despite living in a different province and having never used an e-tolled highway.
In October, Zuma was criticised for unfavourably comparing Malawi’s national roads with those of South Africa while trying to justify the e-tolling system. — Sapa