Lerato Mbhiza
From midnight on 11 April 2024 there will no longer be e-tolls on Gauteng roads, according to a recently published Government Gazette.
The e-toll system, which was met by public resistance, was launched in 2013 in Gauteng to improve the state of the provincial roads.
After 14 years of the controversial system, managed by the South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL), from 11 April the gantries in Gauteng will be switched off on the N1, N12, N3, N4 and the R21.
The switching off of the e-tolls comes 11 days later than the promised deadline by Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi.
Over the past few years, the government has indicated several dates and deadlines for the scheme to be scrapped and missed them all.
Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana announced in October 2022 that a new financing mechanism for the Gauteng freeway upgrade debt will replace the failed toll scheme, which has been boycotted by most motorists.
About 10 to 12% of road users in Gauteng are paying for e-tolls, according to the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse.
The national government agreed to pay 70% of the outstanding R47bn debt and the Gauteng government 30%.
In October 2023 Godongwana said e-tolls will be stopped after an agreement was signed between the Gauteng government and national government.
Since its inception, the project, which forced motorists travelling on certain highways in Johannesburg and Tshwane to pay, was widely rejected.
The Gauteng government is expected to pay off 30% of the R43 million owed to SANRAL for the project, with the rest of the bill set to be paid off by the National Treasury.
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