The bells e-toll at midnight

However, mixed reactions to the looming commencement of the user-pay system remain.

While the department of transport urged motorists to register for e-tolling, the Opposition To Urban Tolling Alliance (Outa) has reinforced that here is no law requiring road users to buy an e-tag to use Gauteng highways.

Outa chairman Wayne Duvenage said acquiring an e-tag had nothing to do with being a law abiding citizen, but merely made enforcing e-tolling easier for Sanral.

Road users must be aware that getting an e-tag and registering with Sanral places road users on Sanrals system and binds road users to a contract to pay e-tolls, he explained.

According to Sanral, non-tagged road users will have a seven day grace period in which to pay after driving through a gantry.

After the expiry of the grace period, Sanral will send motorists an invoice within 32 days.

Transport Minister Dipuo Peters has urged all motorists to register for e-tolling.

She said, “It’s in your best interests that you get tagged.”

“This will enable you to gain access to discounts offered to tag holders by Sanral.”
An e-tag costs R49.95 and the road users e-toll accounts will be credited with this amount once they have registered.

Unregistered cars will be charged 59c per kilometre while those with e-tags will pay 30c.

Dipuo said more than 21 000 people had registered since the minister announced the commencement of the e-tolling in November and according to Sanral more than 735 000 e-tags have been sold.

However, Outa reinforced that there were alternatives to getting tagged. Outa said non-tagged road users could opt to pay e-tolls at a higher tariff, compelling Sanral to send invoices and notices for payment.

Alternatively, road users could refuse to pay e-tolls and this will force Sanral to send further notices and demands for payment.

Outa said Sanral may sue for payment in court and/or prosecute the road user for non-payment of e-tolls, which may result in the road-user having to defend their action in court.

Duvenage said Outas legal team has evidence to show that e-tolling is unlawful because Sanral failed to properly inform the public of the intent to toll Gautengs highways from the outset.

Law firm Findlay & Niemeyer Inc has offered to defend the first non-compliant e-toll road user as a test case.