18 February 2013

A number of Members have queried when the e-Tolls in Gauteng will be implemented. The planned 1st Phase of the GFIP has not been implemented as yet , viz the initial 185km of new freeways with the gantries.

The High Court has granted OUTA leave to appeal its decision (at the Supreme Court of Appeal). This date has not been set down yet.

The outstanding Transport and Related Matters Amendment Bill has not been re-tabled before parliament as it was rejected in November 2012. This will only be possible from 19 February (when parliament is reconvened) and the date for the tabling of this legislation has not yet been communicated to us.

Until such time - there would presumably not be an implementation of e-Tolls, therefore no date has been set down.

The Minister of Transport could - at any stage - publicise a date in the Government Gazette but there has been no word of this at all.

Other Toll Projects

All other tolling projects (Southern Cape, Winelands, Huguenot, etc as well as Phases 2, 3 & 4 of the GFIP) have been placed on hold. SANRAL stated in the media on Friday 15 February that discussion around these OTHER projects needs to be started / commenced (as the Association has been stating since the Constitutional Court finding in 2012).

These projects - as well as the Independent Transport Regulator - will be discussed with the Department of Transport and SANRAL sooner rather than later to ensure the e-toll debacle does not recur again.

The Road Freight Association

Tel: 011 974 4399    Fax: 011 974 4903    email: membership@rfa.co.za           website: www.rfa.co.za