Photo by: Duane Daws
As a result of the “close cooperation” between the Department of Transport, South African National Road Agency Limited (Sanral), the Gauteng Provincial Registrar and various taxi associations, as of March 31, over 46 000 taxis in Gauteng have been registered for e-tolling, rendering them exempt from the payment of e-tolls.
A further 1 300 applications for registration are currently being processed, Sanral said in a statement on Monday.
“There are clear benefits for taxi operators who are registered for e-toll,” commented Sanral communications head Vusi Mona. “We want to thank the South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) for the principled stand it took in support of e-tolling and for encouraging its members to register.”
He noted that those who were inciting people not to register and had “spread rumours” about Santaco allegedly boycotting e-tolls were “exposed recently” when the taxi organisation said taxis had no reason to boycott registering as qualifying public transport vehicles were exempt.
“There are clear benefits attached to registration, not only for the operators, but also for their passengers,” Mona explained, adding that Sanral had undertaken to set aside the e-tolls due by qualifying public transport vehicles that had already received invoices.
Such vehicles would need to be operating as compliant public transport and register with Sanral to be considered.
“Sanral urges all other associations to encourage their members to register with the required documentation so that they can also receive exemptions and not pay toll fees when using the Gauteng e-roads. Registrations remove any misunderstandings that may arise owing to taxi owners receiving an account,” Mona remarked.