Despite the scrapping of the e-tolls system, the gantries will be repurposed for other purposes, says Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga.
Road users will no longer be charged for use of the controversial e-toll network from midnight on Thursday.It was agreed that Treasury will pay 70% of the R47 billion debt, with the Gauteng government to pay the remaining 30%.Addressing the media in Centurion, Chikunga noted the public outrage when e-tolls were introduced in 2013 and acknowledged that government could have consulted widely and done things differently, but said it was “water under the bridge”.
“We hope that the withdrawal of e-tolls will give Gauteng motorists and South Africans in general certainty after a long period of uncertainty.”The minister said the process of getting rid of e-tolls was not easy as the issue on how the South African National Roads Agency was going to repay the debt it incurred to build the road infrastructure and how the network will be maintained in the future lingered.
“It is important to note that although these roads are no longer going to be tolled, the benefits of improved roads remain and the gantries, which have been installed for use on this scheme, will continue to be used for other functions, such as fighting crime.”
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