SANRAL MUST DISCLOSE ALL TOLL ADMIN COSTS

The SA National Roads Agency (SANRAL) must disclose all administration costs of the e-toll electronic tolling system as people who have bought e-tags are already being billed for account statements and SMS costs.

According to The Star newspaper today, R5 is charged for statements sent in the post and 20 cents for each SMS notifying the account balance. This is done without notification and consent, and two months before the tolls are meant to come into operation in February next year.

The amount is deducted from the R50 pre-paid amount for the e-tags which are necessary to qualify for toll discounts.

These extra costs are another example of SANRAL's high-handed implementation of the controversial tolls.

Motorists are entitled to know the full costs of the e-tags, and any other hidden costs there may be.

Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance continues to call for a boycott of the e-tags and the scrapping of the tolls entirely.

Refusing to buy e-tags is a legal consumer protest. This latest costs fiasco confirms the view that the e-tolling system is too expensive and complex to work.

Statement issued by Jack Bloom MPL, DA Gauteng Caucus Leader, December 22 2011

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