Taxpayers might pay for e-tolls

The Citizen reported that taxpayers may have to bail out SA National Roads Agency Ltd (Sanral) if people refuse to pay their e-toll bills.

According to Vusi Mona, spokesperson for Sanral, “if [Sanral] don’t receive the money [for e-tolls], we may have to approach the taxpayers to bail us out. And I don’t think they will be very impressed.”

Even before its official launch on 3 December 2013, the e-tolling system has been controversial.

Since then a long list of complaints such as incorrect billing, unlawful debts, extortionate sums and electronic glitches have surfaced and added to the public’s ire.

Mona’s latest statement is his most contentious to date, and his prediction that the taxpayers won’t be “impressed” is very much an understatement.