Gauteng e-tolls to go live at midnight

Gauteng e-tolls to go live at midnight

The long-awaited electronic tolling system (e-tolls) on Gauteng's highways is expected to go live at midnight on Monday.

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This follows several years of delays due to court challenges and a public outcry.
  
Below is the timeline of events leading up to the day Gauteng motorists will start paying.
   
October 8, 2007 -- Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project (GFIP) is officially launched.
   
October 12, 2007 -- Intention to toll sections of Gauteng's freeways published in Government Gazette. Public asked to comment. 
   
November 14, 2007 -- Closing date for public comment on the proposed introduction of e-tolls.
   
March 28, 2008 -- Sections of Gauteng freeways declared toll roads in Government Gazette.
   
June 26, 2008 -- Construction of the first phase of the GFIP commences.
   
June 2010 -- The SA National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) starts erecting toll gantries along Gauteng's freeways.
   
February 4, 2011 -- Sanral announces e-toll tariffs and that registration commences in the second quarter of 2011.
   
February 18, 2011 -- Congress of SA Trade Unions announces it will call for strike action over the introduction of e-tolls.
   
February 22, 2011 -- The then transport minister Sibusiso Ndebele suspends implementation of e-tolls and establishes a committee to address concerns about the tariffs.
   
March 2011 -- Public consultation process on e-tolls takes place.   
 
June 2011 -- GFIP steering committee announces reduced e-toll tariffs following the public consultation process.
   
August 10, 2011 -- Cabinet approves the revised tariffs for e-tolls.
   
October 23, 2011 -- Ndebele orders that e-tolls be halted and that further consultation take place.
   
November 2011 -- Public hearings held on e-tolls.    
 
February 22, 2012 -- In his budget speech, Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan announces that e-tolls will go ahead at reduced rate in April of that year.
   
March 2012 -- Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance (Outa) applies for an urgent interdict in the High Court in Pretoria against the implementation of e-tolls.
   
April 29, 2012 -- The court grants Outa an interim interdict pending a full judicial review.
   
March 22, 2012 -- Treasury files an appeal against the interim interdict in the Constitutional Court.
   
August 15, 2012 -- Case is heard in the Constitutional Court.    
 
September 20, 2012 -- Constitutional Court sets aside the temporary interdict.
   
December 13, 2012 -- After the full judicial review, the High Court in Pretoria rules against Outa in its application to have the implementation of e-tolls set aside.
   
January 25, 2013 -- High Court in Pretoria grants Outa leave to appeal to the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) against the December ruling.
   
September 25, 2013 -- Outa appeal is heard in the SCA.    
 
October 9, 2013 -- Outa loses its appeal in the SCA.    
 
November 20, 2013 -- Transport Minister Dipuo Peters announces e-tolls will go live on December 3.
  
November 26, 2013 -- Sanral warns that a hefty bill awaits non-registered motorists without e-toll accounts who fail to pay for e-tolls within a week. The Freedom Front Plus announces a last-minute attempt to stop the implementation of e-tolls through an application for an interdict in the High Court in Pretoria.
   
December 2, 2013 -- FF Plus application is heard in court.   
 
-Sapa

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