We were hoping the day would never arrive. Alas, Transport Minister Dipuo Peters confirmed that e-tolling of Gauteng’s roads will officially start on Tuesday, 3 December. Just in time for the festive season.

The Minister spoke to reporters in Pretoria today:

Sanral should be allowed to start collecting toll fees in order to begin to repay the debt incurred when the roads were upgraded.

She said that all systems are in place to ensure that the e-tolling system runs smoothly and effectively. (Dammit.)  The Minister also reassured reporters that the National Roads Agency Ltd is completely capable of administering the project.

The government’s official line is that e-tolling will help to recoup some of the R20 billion used to upgrade roads the roads in Gauteng. Multiple highways were transformed from three lanes to five or six traffic lanes over the course of the last decade.

Peters said that motorists without e-tolling tags would pay double the standard amount, and not benefit from discounts.

Apparently, government-owned vehicles will not be exempt from e-tolling.

[Source : iol motoring]