LISTEN: E-toll collection contract ‘was always subject to extension’
The Electronic Toll Collections (ETC) says its contract with the South African National Road Agency (Sanral) to collect Gauteng e-toll fees was always going to be extended
On Thursday, the DA’s candidate for Gauteng premier, Solly Msimanga, told a media briefing that the contract had been renewed for 2019.
Msimanga said the contract expired in December 2018.
#Etoll Msimanga says the contract has been renewed till December 2019 with a possibility of extending into 2020 pic.twitter.com/e2XTPwNGs8
— Jacaranda News (@JacaNews) January 17, 2019
ETC CEO Coenie Vermaak says the original contract made provision for an annual extension.
"That was always part of the original contract that was signed in September 2009, which always provided a clause for Sanral to extend it by one year. In fact, the contract has been reduced from eight years to six years.”
Msimanga told the briefing that the contract could again be tendering into 2020, despite the ANC in Gauteng vowing to bring an end to the user-pay system.
#Etoll Msimanga says the DA will head to court over the e-tolls once the party governs. pic.twitter.com/6dykxXpwid
— Jacaranda News (@JacaNews) January 17, 2019
Vermaak could not confirm this but said Sanral is in the process of tendering for a new service provider once the current extension ends.
He said the contract was originally going to cost Sanral R10 billion but has been reduced to around R4 billion.
Msimanga said if the DA takes over Gauteng in the 2019 elections, the party will head to court.
Spokesperson for the ANC in Gauteng, Tasneem Motara, has accusedMsimanga of being opportunistic.
"It’s opportunistic for the DA because even if they won Gauteng they cannot possibly remove e-tolls and that is why the ANC in the province marched to the national government. The province doesn't have the competence to take decisions on e-tolls. It’s the responsibility of the (national) Department of Transport.”
Motara said the ANC cannot comment on the rumoured extension but remains adamant that the system must be scrapped.
Vermaak, meanwhile, said only 30% of motorists are currently paying their e-toll bills regularly.
"Sanral indicated last year that it had begun legal proceedings for motorists who do not comply. We currently have about 15 000 cases in court and summons that need to be delivered to non-complaint motorists.”