Gauteng motorists not registered for e-tolls should pay their e-toll bills as soon as possible to avoid being charged more, roads agency Sanral said on Sunday.

“When you do not have an e-tag and if you do not pay within the stipulated seven days, there is an additional cost, which could be three times the standard tariff, incurred,” spokesman Vusi Mona said in a statement.

Motorists who did not pay within the seven-day grace period, from the date of first gantry pass, would qualify for a 60% discount on the invoice amount if they paid within 30 days of the invoice date.

Mona said that the e-toll system was lawful, and that the toll collection process had three phases.

First was the seven-day grace period, followed by Violations Processing Centre’s debt collection process and lastly prosecution as per the Criminal Procedure Act.

The prosecution phase would begin when the motorist was uncooperative following a final letter of demand from Sanral.

Mona reiterated that motorists with e-tags would get discounted rates and benefit from the monthly cap on e-toll fees.

He said that people and organisations who discouraged the public from registering for e-tolls should take responsibility. — Sapa