Deadline failed to spark e-toll rush

Only few motorist were sported making their way at the E-toll outlet in south gate, Sanral’s 60 percent discount on e-toll debt comes to and end today. Johannesburg. Picture: Itumeleng English 793 02.05.2016

Only few motorist were sported making their way at the E-toll outlet in south gate, Sanral’s 60 percent discount on e-toll debt comes to and end today. Johannesburg. Picture: Itumeleng English 793 02.05.2016

Published May 3, 2016

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Johannesburg - Despite Sanral expecting a rush, there was no sign of long queues of motorists wanting to take advantage of the 60 percent e-toll discount deadline at midnight on Monday night.

As the deadline approached, it emerged that Outa, the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse, had filed notice of its intention to defend summonses for amounts ranging between R400 000 and R8 million that have been issued by the South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) to defaulters.

“To date, several Outa members have received high court summonses for amounts ranging between R400 000 and R8 million.

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“Outa’s lawyers have filed notices of intention to defend these matters, on behalf of our members, at the high court in Pretoria, and a trial of this nature could possibly take years to finalise,” Outa said in a statement on its website.

Outa chairman Wayne Duvenage said Sanral's lawyers would have to respond in the next two weeks and make a declaration stating on what grounds they were basing their claim.

Government departments

Meanwhile, director-general and secretary of the cabinet Cassius Lubisi has issued a statement urging government departments to settle outstanding e-toll bills.

According to Lubisi, Sanral has approximately 320 outstanding accounts registered in the name of both national and provincial departments for an outstanding amount of R6 688 854.

He added that the 60 percent discount on this outstanding amount would have a significant impact in reducing the financial burden of the state to the value of R4 013 312.

“It's on this basis that all departments are urged to pay their outstanding e-toll debt by the deadline, thereby seizing the opportunity of the once-off discount on an e-toll-debt incurred before September 1, 2015 as announced by the deputy president,” Lubisi said.

Reduced fees

In May last year, Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa announced a new e-toll dispensation meant to address the concerns raised by the people of Gauteng. As a result of his announcement, the government reduced the monthly caps for all e-toll transactions.

The toll fees for light motor vehicles were capped at R225 a month, motorcyclists at R125, medium heavy vehicles do not pay more than R875 and medium heavy vehicles R2900.

This applies to all vehicles using Gauteng toll roads. Public vehicles with operating permits remain exempted from e-tolls.

It was announced that the outstanding e-toll fees would be discounted by 60 percent and users would have six months in which to settle their debts incurred between December 3, 2013 and August 30, 2015.

Motorists were given up to midnight on May 2.

On Monday, the SABC reported that Sanral said more than 300 000 e-toll defaulters had taken advantage of the discounts on tolls incurred.

But Duvenage said the e-toll payment centres were very quiet.

The Star

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