Implementation of e-tolls on hold until May

Friday, April 27, 2012

Pretoria- The implementation of the e-tolling system has been postponed to next month, the Department of Transport has announced.

In a statement on Thursday, Director-General of the department, George Mahlalela, said that e-tolling, which was supposed to go live on Monday, has been postponed until 30 May.

This is to finalise regulations following input on regulatory and administrative issues from the public and interested stakeholders, said the department.

The system has received opposition from motorist, business and unions. There is currently a court challenge underway.

On Monday, National Treasury announced that it had filed papers to intervene in the application to interdict the collection of tolls.

"Treasury's responsibilities in this regard derive from the Constitution and the Public Finance Management Act," it said on Monday.

This comes after the Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance, South African Vehicle Renting and Leasing Association, the Quadpara Association of South Africa and South African National Consumer Union brought an application for an interdict.

The application is against the South African National Roads Agency Ltd (Sanral), the Ministers of Transport and Water and Environmental Affairs respectively; the Director-General of the Department of Water and Environmental Affairs; Gauteng MEC of Roads and Transport, and the National Consumer Commission.

A decision on the court case is expected on Saturday morning.