Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has confirmed that almost R6.9 billion will be refunded to motorists who have been paying for e-tolls.
Speaking to 702 on Tuesday (3 January), the premier said that the decision on whether or not to refund Gauteng motorists was one of the key issues that led to the delay of the e-tolling system being scrapped on 31 December 2022 as planned.
He said that the full scrapping of e-tolls in Gauteng is a legislative process that necessitates regulation changes through publishing of a gazette- but there have been differences between national and provincial governments on the details.
Anong the differences is what to do with the money owed by motorists on their bills currently, as well as what to do with motorists who have been diligently paying their e-tolls over the years.
He indicated that such refunds would amount to close to R6.9 billion.
The e-toll system was due to be scrapped on 31 December 2022, but has been delayed as the formal process, including finalising key components of the memorandum of understanding between national and provincial government, must still be finalised.
Lesufi said all uncertainties will be clarified in his upcoming State of the Province address.
The premier said that 95% of the issues around e-tolling had been sorted out, with the government making the decision to refund road users who have been paying e-tolls.
The system has a compliance rate of 17%, so the number of users is not that large, but the refund amount is sitting at R6.9 billion, Lesufi said, which is not insignificant.
“It’s clear we have to refund people. We will refund people who have paid. The outstanding debate is the manner in which they will be refunded,” the premier said.
In the next few months, provincial government is expected to begin a consultative process to decide how they will collect the revenue owed to Sanral.
Source: Business Tech, News24, Eyewitness News, image from Twitter: @tndaba