WATCH: Etolls officially scrapped with sing and dance

WATCH: Etolls officially scrapped with sing and dance

Celebrations on a highway as e-tolls system is switched off .

E-TOLL GANTRY
JMK/Wikimedia Commons

This means that from today motorists will no longer be charged for the use of the e-toll network on Gauteng highways.


Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi and Gauteng Transport MEC Kedibone Diale Tlabela ceremoniously switched off the tolling system at midnight on Thursday. 


E-tolls, managed by the South African National Agency (SANRAL), have been the subject of intense debate since the system went live in December 2013.


The system compelled motorists to pay to use certain highways around Gauteng, mainly in Johannesburg and Tshwane.


However, the controversial toll system was rejected by the majority of motorists who simply refused to pay.


The commitment to scrap the e-tolls was eventually made last year, with the Gauteng government committing to pay 30% of the debt and the National Treasury paying back the other 70%.


Lesufi says the e-tolls were delaying plans to maintain roads in Gauteng.


"Roads are a back bone of economic development, the maintenance and improvement of roads was halted by this problem.


"Now that we have this as history, the growth of Gauteng will start," says Lesufi.


The scrapping of e-tolls doesn't remove the debt owed by motorists.


Earlier this week, Minister Chikunga confirmed that motorists would still be expected to settle their e-toll bills.


"In terms of the law, the motorists are still obligated to pay, on how we will enforce it, that's a matter we still have to discuss," said Chikunga.

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