"Ramaphosa announced a reduction in non-tag tariffs, a reduced monthly cap and a 60 percent discount for the payment of currently unpaid toll fees."
I just want to make a few points clear: -1) The road network has improved by Sanral. The roads have not improved. You still see contractors working on roads in and around Gauteng closing lanes here and there. This has been since this E-Toll road constructions have started.We are still sitting in peak traffic on these Sanral highways. There has been NO improvement. I think the objective of the E-Tolls was that motorists would spend not so much time on the roads. In some cases a trip from Johannesburg to Pretoria could take 3 hours, the same time as from Pretoria to Polokwane.
2) TransparencyThis was not discussed with motorists and not all motorrists will pay.
3) E-Toll FeesWhy can the E-Toll fees be reduced NOW with about 60% and why was it not charged from the start? This shows that Sanral and the government actually wanted to milk South Africa's motorists.
4) Double SubsidisingMany years ago we used to take out a license disc for the vehicle and a 3rd party disc.
The license disc was to prove the roadworthiness of the vehicle and the 3rd party disc the accident 3rd party insurance.
This 3rd party disc was taken away during the 70's and the 3rd party levy was included in the fuel price.
Appropriation funding for the non-toll network was through the fuel price and taxes.
Toll Roads was implemented where the Toll Fees would go for the upkeeping of the specific road, but there had to be an alternative route. In other words it was not compulsory.
This E-Tolls is compulsory with NO alternative route.
Visit thi link http://www.outa.co.za/site/no-to-open-road-tolling-gauteng-pays-more-than-its-fair-share/
5) Who is benefitting out of E-TollsWe all know that Sanral and the government buit the E-Tolls with loans from other countries. The government employees pension funds was used as surity to obtain these loans and that is the reason why they need to force it through.
In the new Toll fees mentioned by Ramaphosa, there would be a decrease of 48.28%, from .58cpk to .30cpk, but for most of us there would be an increase of 3000% from 0.0cpk to .30cpk.
Why should we accept an increase of 3000%?
This so-called decrease of 48.28%, for how long before it is increased to .60cpk again?
Just asking.