E-tolling to be launched soon

The launch of E-tolls is expected soon. President Jacob Zuma signed into law the Transport Laws and Related Bill which gives the go-ahead for E-tolling on Gauteng Roads. On Wednesday 9 October The Opposition to Urban Tolling (Outa) lost their appeal to see E-tolls deleted from the map.

Registered E-toll users will pay between R1.10 and R2.00 per gantry, with unregistered motorists paying between R2.50 and R6.20.

We scouted the roads of Roodepoort to hear what residents had to say.

Shaun Paul: I’m against E-tolling. I won’t even buy the E-tag but I’ll definitely be using the highway. My car is my office; I’m always on the road so it will hugely affect my finances. When this is launched, it will roughly cost me more than R800 per month to use the road, but like I said I’m not going to pay for this.

Peter Malatji – I don’t support E-tolls. It will take a lot of money from us. I’m always on the road, I drive around the whole of Joburg. Imagine how much it will cost me. If these E-tolls were more like the toll gates on national roads maybe it would be better. These E-toll gantries are not far apart from each other.

Alex Richter – I stay in the bush and I will try by all means to avoid these E-tolls when I come to town. As for the e-tag, I’m definitely not buying it.

Antonietta Martin – I won’t buy the E-tag and want nothing to do with it. I’ll use the extra money I have on petrol to drive around just to make sure I don’t use the roads with E-tolls.

Johann Webber – I’m saying no to E-tolling and e-tags.The issue was not discussed with the public though it will affect us financially. I will definitely use the roads with e-tolls and I will make it difficult for them [Sanral] to get my money, they won’t get any cent from me.Why should we pay to use the roads?

Joseph Mokgethi -This is upsetting me. I will drive on the E-toll roads and I won’t pay, they will arrest me if they want to. This thing will be costing us more by next year. They are deceiving us, I promise you next year this time we will be paying triple the amount. Remember toll gates were cheap in the past, look how much they are costing now. Why should we pay to use this roads that are always full of traffic? They must develop our roads and stop bringing fancy foreign things that don’t add value to the lives of South Africans. If we allow it to happen in Gauteng, it will go to other provinces.

Justin Oh – I’m not really happy with this but I respect the government and any of its policies. I’m a law-abiding citizen and will definitely buy my e-tag and pay for E-tolls when the announcement is made that they will be launched.

Usswald Doug -They must scrap them. I’m a civil engineer and find it pathetic that we build these roads and are expected to pay to use them. I won’t pay for them, I will try to stay off the road where they are.

Vincent Dube – They must cancel this E-tolling nonsense. This government is not thinking about poor people. Where are we going to get the extra money to pay for the E-tolls? Our income remains the same but they are increasing our expenses. They should have built a separate road for poor people to use before they implement these E-tolls. What angers me more is that they are enriching their foreign friends at the expense of poor South Africans. It’s really sad that the government that is supposed to stand up for us is the one oppressing us with all sorts of bills and laws. I won’t pay for the E-tolls, I’ll suffer the consequence of my actions. I’ll see if they’ll criminalise us for not having money to pay for E-tolls.

Lara Campher- I bought an E-tag already because I drive a company car so it was mandatory to do it.

Marric Gassner- E-tolls suck.