JOHANNESBURG — The controversial e-toll system in Gauteng will officially be phased out by the end of March, as announced by Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi during the State of the Province Address (SOPA) on Monday evening. This decision marks a significant shift in policy, responding to widespread opposition from the residents of Gauteng.
According to South African Government News Agency, the resolution to end the e-toll scheme comes after extensive discussions with key stakeholders, including meetings with Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana and Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga. The consensus reached signifies a collective move to address the public’s rejection of the e-toll system, which was initially implemented to enhance the province’s road network.
Premier Lesufi highlighted that the formal process to deactivate and detach the e-toll system will commence on March 31, effectively making e-tolls a thing of the past in the province. Further details regarding the transition are expected to be disclosed by the Finance Minister.
The decision to scrap the e-tolls aligns with statements made by Minister Godongwana during the mini budget speech in October 2022, where he emphasized the need to move beyond previous debates and find practical solutions to the e-toll dilemma. In his speech, Godongwana outlined the financial arrangements for settling the South African National Roads Agency Limited’s (SANRAL) debt and interest obligations related to the tolls. The Gauteng provincial government agreed to contribute 30 percent towards this settlement and will also assume responsibility for the maintenance of the 201 kilometers of roads and associated interchanges affected by the e-toll system.
Additionally, the government plans to allocate an initial R23.7 billion from the national fiscus to support these efforts, with strict conditions attached to the disbursement. This allocation is part of a broader strategy to fund road maintenance and potential future investments through alternative revenue sources, potentially including the existing electronic toll infrastructure, new toll plazas, or other mechanisms within the provincial government’s jurisdiction.
The elimination of e-tolls in Gauteng represents a pivotal moment in the province’s infrastructure policy, reflecting the government’s responsiveness to public sentiment and its commitment to finding sustainable solutions for road financing and maintenance.