Any ‘user pays’ project where less than half the users pay is a failure, says Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance (Outa) chairperson Wayne Duvenage.
Outa is opposed to electronic tolling on Gauteng’s highways, as implemented last year.
Duvenhage says Outa believes a “maximum of 40%” of vehicles on Gauteng’s highways have etags, with this figure declining.
“Whether enforcement can happen is questionable. The data used for enforcement is questionable. We see all the problems we predicted coming to fruition.
“It is only a matter of time before they [government] pull the plug on it [e-tolling].”
Duvenhage says the e-toll review panel, as announced by Gauteng Premier David Makhura earlier this year, is an effort from government “to find a way out”.
The panel’s task is to assess the socio-economic impact of e-tolls in Gauteng and to invite proposals and submissions from Gauteng residents on proposed solutions.
The panel is expected to present a final report and recommendations to the Gauteng provincial government by November 30.
“It’s all politics now. “We have local elections in two years and the people have made clear their opinion on e-tolling in Gauteng’s provincial election,” says Duvenhage.
He says Portugal, which has also imple-mented e-tolling, has reached 80% compliance. He claims this number is slipping steadily.
“Out of ten people around the dinner table, eight are paying and two not, so the eight becomes angry, asking why they are paying.”
Duvenhage says Outa is not against paying for new road infrastructure, but questions whether e-tolling, as implemented in Gauteng, is the most cost-effective way to do so.
“Replace e-tolling with a fuel levy or a general tax. How long can you possibly flog a dead horse?”