E-toll fees affordable
31 March 2016
Perceptions that e-tolls are still unaffordable even though there is a new dispensation which substantially lowered toll fees, are not based on facts, says the communications manager for the South African National Roads Agency SOC Pty Ltd (SANRAL) Vusi Mona. Eight out of ten private vehicle owners in Gauteng will pay less than R100 a month to travel on the Gauteng e-road users, if they make a payment within the grace period.
The new dispensation on e-tolls fees has significantly reduced the average costs for registered users, says Mona.
“Most citizens acknowledge the fact that users must pay for world-class infrastructure such as the Gauteng Freeway network. However, they are concerned that e-tolls will add a significant burden to their monthly expenses at a time when the cost of living is going up.
“This perception is wrong. No owner of a light motor vehicle will pay more than R236 per month, if paid within the grace period and present road use patterns show that 78% will pay less than R100 – and, of these, 44% will have regular bills smaller than R25.”